A/N: This is my first attempt at a Sky High fic, so please be nice! Also much thanks to Jaydat and xPajama Rockerx for inspiring me and getting me motivated with their wonderful SH fics!

Vali put her arms protectively around her guitar case when she heard the knock on her bedroom door. "Come in," she called warily, and leaned back against the headboard. Her mother, Mrs. Blackley, entered with a wavering smile on her face.

"Listen, do you wanna talk about what happened at school today?" she asked. "Why don't you tell me what happened?"

"What's there to tell?" Vali asked. "I was in Music, singing, and...I just got zapped with powers."

Mr. and Mrs. Blackley were supers. Mr. Blackley was the Shifter, for he could change shape at will. Mrs. Blackley was Ava the Awesome, her powers being telepathy and telekinesis. Vali, already a sophomore, hadn't displayed any superpowers, so instead of going to her parents' old high school, Sky High, she'd just gone to regular high school. Secretly she'd been relieved- there were enough supers to save the world. Besides, she wasn't exactly the best candidate. Moody yet outgoing, she had no friends. In fact, the only reason her name was known was because she'd launched a music career. She'd been working on her second album in Music class at school when she'dbeen knocked to the ground, struck dumb and blind.

Vali thought about what had happened. As the darkness swirled about her, and she'd struggled to rise, a pale-faced woman with dark hair and eyes appeared before her. "Valianta, welcome to the ranks of the Duramar, my dear." Vali had been unable to speak, of course, but the woman had continued. "We have the power to control all with our music. You have a singularly wonderful voice, but you must mix your power into it to take control of your abilities. You have been chosen to join the ranks of the most powerful beings in the world, but choose your life path well, Valianta. Choose well..."

With those cryptic words, the woman had disappeared and suddenly Vali could see and speak again. Mr. Aglio, the music teacher helping her practice for her studio recording, had been carrying her to the nurse's room. With a start, Vali realized she could hear Mr. Aglio's thoughts. It wasn't until that afternoon that she'd realized that she must've gotten her mother's powers. She'd tried out her telekinesis skills on her pencils in Math, and sure enough, she'd been cursed with her mother's super-ness.

Blinking out of her memories, Vali turned her soulful green eyes to her mother. "Marmee, why did I get them? I've never wanted to be a super!" She couldn't tell her mother about the woman in her visionand the "Duramar" crap. Vali couldn't tell anyone- they'd think she was crazy! And that was exactly what Vali was afraid of.

"Valianta, it's all going to work out, you'll see! You're going to Sky High in the morning and the you'll learn to harness your powers. Don't look so glum! You've been specially chosen to help keep the world safe! Be happy!" So saying, Mrs. Blackley kissed her daughter's forehead and left the room.

Shuddering, Vali realized that her mother's words sounded similar to the vision-woman's. Coincedence? Perhaps, perhaps not. But she refused to think about it. With a sigh, Vali put her guitar case on the floor by her bed and soon fell into a fitful sleep.

Vali rolled her eyes. She sat in the corner of the bus stop, a backpack on the ground at her feet. Her mother was waiting with her for the bus to Sky High, even though Vali had begged and pleaded that morning to be allowed to return to her old school.

"Mom, I'm not one of those superfreaks! So I can use telepathy, so nothing! I don't want to go!" she'd cried. But, obviously, she'd been overruled by both her parents at once. Mr. Blackley's cover was as a comicstrip writer, Mrs. Blackley's was as a yoga instructor. Today, though, she'd arranged to have an employee open for her so she could see her only daughter off.

"Oh, here's the bus. Come along, let's go! Hello, Ron!" Mrs. Blackley suddenly used a fake-smile when the bus door opened. She hadn't teased Ron Wilson while at Sky High, but she hadn't stood up for him, either. She pushed her angry daughter up the stairs of the bus, handing her her backpack. "Don't read anyone's mind intentionally, and don't let your anger get the best of you, all right?" she cautioned. Vali snorted and boarded the bus, sliding into one of the empty seats in the back. There were few students on board, as Vali's was one of the first stops. Only some Goth kid dressed in leather and a geeky boy in a sweater set were on yet.

"Hiya!" wheezed the geek. "I'm Larry."

Ignoring him, Vali called over to the Goth, "You should only wear leather taken from animals that are headed for the slaughter house, otherwise they're being killed solely for their skins." Vali herself had exactly one real leather jacket, an old and soft thing that had been her mother's. Anything else that seemed to be leather was really pleather, plastic-leather.

The Goth kid ignored her in turn, and Vali retreated into the corners of her mind for the rest of the trip. When they got to school, Vali made her way down to the principal's office. She'd been told by her mother exactly where that was, and so had no need to ask for directions.

"Principal Powers, I'm--" she began, but the principal cut her off.

"Valianta Blackley, correct? Follow me." The principal led Vali out of the office and down several hallways, speaking rapidly as they went. "As this is halfway through the first semester, you'll have to be evaluated by Coach Boomer during the sophomore's P.E. period, which, luckily for you, is first period this week. Ah, here we are. Boomer? Here's the kid. Do your stuff."

Vali walked into the gym, her chin up proudly. She was instantly subjected to the scrutiny of fifty sophomore students. Will worked hard to keep his jaw from dropping. This was Vali Blackley, the newest it-girl. She sang, played drums and guitar, and, with her waist-long black hair and deep green eyes, was every zine's cover girl. "That's Vali Blackley!" whispered Layla. "What's she doing here?" But no one could answer her.

"SO, YOU THINK YOU'RE HERO MATERIAL!" bellowed Boomer.

"I think I should be back in Maxville High, instead in some ridiculous floating school," she answered coolly, "but, unfortunately, had no choice in the matter." She tossed her head as Coach Boomer gaped like a fish.

"UP HERE, MS. I'M SO FABULOUS!" Coach Boomer shrieked, his face turning puce.

"Actually, my name's Blackley," she retorted, tossing her bag on the floor and stomping up to the platform. Everyone got a better look at her as she did so. Dressed casually in form-fitting black jeans and a dark green tube top, her hair pulled up into a bun at the back of her head, she looked beautiful. Well, except for the horrible look on her face, which clearly said, "Back off or else".

"POWER?" demanded Boomer.

Vali shrugged. "Telekinesis, telepathy, whatever."

"DEMONSTRATE."

Vali folded her arms. "You are currently thinking the following: Even if this brat has powers, she deserves to be sent to military school. Best label her as a Sidekick," Vali said boredly.

Boomer was silent for a long moment, clearly struggling with her placement as the students on the floor whispered and tittered. "Hero," he finally whispered.

Vali rolled her eyes. "Whatever." She left the platform and joined the students, who seemed a bit wary of her. Vali was used to this- wherever she went she was a freak. It was announced they'd be playing Save the Citizen, and for some reason the sophomores seemed overjoyed. Vali skulked in the back of the stands as the game began, popping earbuds into her ears to listen to music. She was taken aback, however, when a certain name was announced...

A/N: What do you think? Vali's gonna have so many issues...for some reason I love giving my chars problems. PLEASE review so I know what you think!