This is basically a prologue to Past and Present, following the Progeny series.

I clearly don't own this and several other desirable things. Enjoy.

Moscow was in ruins. People had fled or been destroyed, screaming and crying. Buildings crumbled and filled the air with smoke and dust. A young woman stood in the middle of the destruction. Her long, dark hair was covered in dust and sweat. Her pretty face was twisted in anger. She wanted justice for her husband, for her children. She wanted to find the people who murdered her husband. She wanted to find the person who had smashed her life and smash their skull, and take their tongue. She wanted blood and destruction and death-

Her lips, which had been pulled back in a snarl, settled into a delicate frown. She turned as Skulduggery Pleasant approached.

They stared at each other for the longest time before either spoke.

"Why?" He could have meant any number of things. Why did you leave me? Why did you evade me? Why become the World-Destroyer now?

"They killed him." Her voice was hoarse and quiet. "They killed him and left him on my door step."

"Fletcher? You want revenge?" He sounded almost surprised.

"I want justice." She seethed.

"You want destruction; I think you've made that much abundantly clear."

"You can't stop me."

"You have to stop this." She eyed him, her eyes narrowing.

"It's not fair! I loved him and they took him away!" A building beside her collapsed seemingly without her interference. A cloud of dust erupted into the air, and when it dissipated there was a gun in Skulduggery's hand.

She cracked a smile, mocking, like the Darquesse that Skulduggery had come to recognize. "A gun? You saw the same future I did. You know what I'm going to do to you."

"It's the same gun but I added a little something; there's a black crystal loaded in this chamber. If I shoot, you will die."

"That's impossible. I have the last black crystal. You're bluffing."

"Please just stop this-"

"You're not going to shoot. Not even when I could destroy you. You never could."

"I can help you if you- "

"I'm going to find the people who killed my husband," She snarled, immune to the pleading desperation in his smooth voice. "I'm going to take their heads I want to destroy and kill and break and maim. It's my time now Skulduggery."

Skulduggery was silent. He shifted as if mustering strength from somewhere. He raised his arm and pointed the gun at her.

"Say goodbye, Valkyrie."

At that she looked positively wrathful. "I'm not-"

The gun fired, its roar no louder than the screams around him or the sound of the crumbling buildings. It was the loudest noise in the world. He lowered his arm. He was still and silent, his head bowed.

Finally he looked up, approached her fallen body. Blood ran through her hair pooling on the ground around her. Slowly, he bent and slid a ring off of her finger It was cold, dappled with blood. The remnants of Necromancy made his bones tingle where it touched him. There was another ring, a wedding ring. He stared at it, then stood, encasing the vessel in a gloved hand.

"Until the end, Valkyrie."

He took a step, then another, striding away from her body.

Soo… yeah. Depressing. If you liked this or its sequel Past and Present, don't forget to review. Its appreciated!