I've had this idea for a while and eventually decided to try writing it up into a proper Skulduggery story. It'll probably have some M-rated chapters later on for violence and whatnot - just a warning. This is kind of an introduction to the story itself, just so you get an idea of what the world's become. Please read and review!

Summary: The year 2017 and the world is in ruins. It's Darquesse against the few survivors who are willing to fight for whatever cost - with Skulduggery Pleasant himself doing his best to save his Valkyrie Cain, while running the secret army. With so many dead and so few living, will anyone ever bring the Destroyer of the World to justice? Multiple pairings. Rated T - very dark and contains violence.

Pairings that'll pop up:

Fletcher/Myra

Fletchyrie

Valduggery(ish)

Tanguine

Ghanith

Thrashgrace

Chinduggery

(Probably a lot more later on too)

Prologue - How It Began

Two years ago. Two years and nine months ago on a Tuesday, to be exact. And as a matter of fact, that was always what the great Skulduggery Pleasant was - exact. Precise. Correct. In the realms of darkness, in a world which had long smouldered into being nothing but bleak, when he was no longer labelled a Sanctuary detective (in fairness, with no Sanctuary insight for two years and nine months, this was perfectly acceptable) and with no best friend or partner to talk to, keeping things in order could hardly be considered bad. Especially in the middle of the War, where he was constantly surrounded by idiots who never listened.

Darquesse had come, just like ever Sensitive had warned them; just like the sorcerers all over the world had had feared. The War consisted of the Destroyer of the World herself, with Tanith Low as her right-hand woman and a whole lot of slaves who had been forced into obeying Darquesse - by being possessed or otherwise. On the other side were any sorcerers who had managed to survive and were determined to fight against her. The leaders of the pack were Skulduggery, Ghastly and Erskine; there were many others too that had come crawling out of the woodwork, many of which Skulduggery loathed - such as Dr. Nye or Billy-Ray Sanguine, no less - but it wasn't exactly the time to be picky.

Every time Skulduggery had a rare, unfortunate opportunity to let his mind drift off, he was dragged back into the memory of his Valkyrie collapsing in his arms, tears streaming down her face from those chocolate brown eyes. Him shaking her, shaking her, demanding her to stay with him.

"…Just until I get you to Dr. Nye." Skulduggery forced himself to keep his voice steady. "Stay awake, do you hear me? You'll be fine."

Her shaking hands gripped forcefully onto his suit. "Help my family, Skulduggery. My parents…Alice…you can't let me…She's coming…"

"Not yet. It's not her time."

She managed a brittle laugh. "I don't think Darquesse is overly bothered. She's been waiting too long."

"She has no reason to come out now. No reason at all. We can fix this if you - Valkyrie, look at me!"

His partner's eyes had rolled into the back of her head and her body had stiffened considerably. Even though he knew, deep down, that this was it, that Darquesse was emerging for good, he still shouted and pleaded with the lifeless body in his arms.

He considered acting on getting Dr. Nye regardless, but at the last moment decided against it; for now, this was just him and Valkyrie and it would most likely be the last time he'd get to see her this way. So he slumped onto the floor, holding her in his arms, feeling the minutes helplessly trickle past him as he stroked her long, brown hair. Only when he felt the arm of the girl twitch did he react, briskly standing up and striding towards the Sanctuary doors, out into the open, where he began to fly, holding her in his arms. As the body began to spasm uncontrollably he descended into a field, far away from the city and Sanctuary.

He set her down softly, stroked a hand through her hair, before turning and leaving behind the girl he knew as Valkyrie. There was no way he was letting any one take her away. She'd be imprisoned, tortured, killed - so if she did attempt to destroy the world, so be it. He'd fight back. But as long as Darquesse had the face of Valkyrie Cain, he would never let her die. Even if he lived to regret it, he would never let her die.

…

Ghastly was approaching him. Skulduggery abruptly shook himself out of his reverie as he stood, drawing out his revolver.

"News?" He asked immediately, to receive a weary shrug from his friend.

"Not much to report, Skulduggery. Darquesse is lying low."

"So nothing else on Tanith, either?"

Ghastly's jaw clenched as he laboriously shook his head. "No."

Skulduggery nodded stiffly, turning away as he glanced over the wasted horizon. They had built a large barricade to section and shelter them away from any more attacks, but a little to the left was a small gap which allowed people to see what was coming. "Well," He eventually sighed, "this means we've got a big fight on our hands soon - again."

"One day we'll get them." Ghastly promised, "we'll get both of them back. Dr. Nye's working on a new mixture for the removal of the Remnant. It's taken him years to get it right, but it's nearly ready."

Skulduggery made a non-committal grunt, deciding not to spoil his friend's delusional fantasies.

"I mean," Ghastly continued with a smile, "Tanith left Sanguine. Part of her must still be in there, otherwise -"

"She left Sanguine because Darquesse emerged, and that's the only person she cares about." Skulduggery interrupted abruptly and the smile dropped from Ghastly's face as he gave a heavy sigh.

"I know. I know. But at least he's miserable now too."

"There is that." Skulduggery agreed as a flicker of a smile returned to Ghastly's scarred face. "As a matter fact, I need him to do a job. Burrow out to find some more weapons. I had a feeling you'd enjoy giving him the task."

Ghastly's scowled. "Why would you think that?"

"Because you can put this on him to make sure he doesn't try to escape." Skulduggery handed him a small black disk - the pain receptor.

Ghastly looked at it for a moment, then nodded with a barely suppressed smirk as he pocketed it. "You spoil me, old friend."

"I know."

They saluted each other and Ghastly gave a parting nod before walking away and leaving the former Skeleton Detective to gaze through the gap across the wasteland once more.

"Oh, Valkyrie." He murmured aloud, "You daft girl. Where are you?" He took a deep breath, before adding in the softest whisper. "I miss you."