Skulduggery Pleasant - Until the End

The Aftermath

Valkyrie stood there in shock as the accelerator whirred gently to a halt. The golden light from within slowly shrunk until it disappeared with a faint pop. The world destroying machine had no power left. Only then did either of them dare to look away from it. Valkyrie sighed and slid down the wall behind her, Skulduggery's hat still on her head.

It was over. They had won.

She looked over to the small puddle of blood from where Ravel had been sitting, that was all that was left of him now. 'He got what he deserved' she thought in anger, remembering Ghastly body, motionless in the Sanctuary and the look on Tanith's face when she realised he was gone. But then that anger subsided, and all that was left was the shock that she had just watched him die and a lot of pain from her body. Her broken hand throbbed like hell.

"Well" said the Engineer at last, "it would appear my job here is complete. Thank you Sir for volunteering the soul required." It paused to look at him before adding distastefully "even if I did have to bend the rules to allow it.." It was only then that Skulduggery turned from the machine. He looked magnificent; standing tall in his ripped black suit, skull tilted to one side, tie tilted to the other. In fact, his magnificence looked rather off balance. "That's quite alright." He said gently, straightening the tie.

There was a short silence broken only by footsteps from the corridors above and Valkyrie's deep breathing. After all, she was the only living thing in the room.

"As my purpose here is complete, I shall now be leaving. Good day to you both." And with that, the Engineer disappeared with a hiss. Valkyrie looked at Skulduggery, her head still leant back against the wall behind her. He look straight back. No words needed, just the aftermath. Just the time needed to think things though. To digest them and file them away. To push back the all too recent memories of Darquesse and Lord Vile. They were the two world saving detectives (on multiple accounts) who's alter-egos egos were God's with world crushing ambitions. 'Ironic' Valkyrie thought.

Skulduggery opened his mouth to speak, stepping forward towards Valkyrie, when there was another, louder hiss. This time it was followed by a 'clunk' of machinery and the Engineer appeared between them again.

"I forgot to say" he said in his usual droning, emotionless voice, "make sure the accelerator is destroyed this time. I've had enough of looking after it." After a pause he added "no more ending the world from this Sanctuary eh?" He laughed a mechanical wheezy laugh which sounded more like he was choking. Valkyrie wondered if she should go and pat him on the back but she decided against it. "I think I shall go and request some new parts before I leave. I feel rusty inside, it's hard being a robot you know?" The Engineer continued talking to itself as it left the room and went down the corridor until it was out of sight.

Valkyrie watched him leave and smiled to herself. She was so tired. Who knew saving the world was such hard work! She felt something beside her and Skulduggery sat down next to her. His movement had been silent as always.

He studied her for a long time as they sat in silence until he eventually opened his arms out towards her. Valkyrie closed her eyes as she moved to hug him but instead she felt the hat being removed roughly from her head.

She opened her eyes and raised her eyebrows as he placed the hat back on his head and looked at her, his head tilted to the side, taunting her.

"You only get the hat on special occasions." He said "and only on the condition I get it back as soon as I'm finished... Even if it does look good on you."

"Does us saving the world not count as a special occasion then?"

He thought before replying "yes.. But I like my hat. MY hat as the name suggests." They both laughed gently. And then without warning he scooped her up in his arms and hugged her. "We did good today! Well actually I did amazingly and you acted pretty well as the beautiful bait in my trap." He said grinning as a face flowed over his skull.

"Don't you EVER make me think I'm going to lose you ever again you understand!" She shot at him, ignoring his last sarcastic comment and not meeting his, now blue, eyes. He took her chin in his gloved hand and made her look at him. "I wouldn't leave you for the world." He muttered, kissing her forehead and hugging her.

"Until the end." He said, letting her go.

"Until the end" she repeated, leaning back against the wall, her head on his shoulder.