Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Anything.
'I'd better get the hell out of here as fast can I can,' Clary thought, as the similar ominous feeling she'd undoubtedly felt from the moment she'd exited the sea witches creepy lair still somehow lingered. In front of her was complete pitch black darkness and she couldn't distinguish a sole thing. Reaching into her bag, she promptly pulled out a small oval shaped crystal rock grasping it between her fingers. The moment her fingertips grazed it's polished surface, a pleasant pale light instantly filled the once dark space, allowing the mermaid to find her way out. She was once again found herself on the same exact route in which she had knowingly taken to get precisely to the sea witches domain.
The impenetrable darkness seemed to linger on forever, but soon it instantly began to lift from the dark ocean water. It's once eerie blackness had instantly changed to more greyish tan color. The journey back to the palace was long and silent. The strong raging whirlpools in which had almost nearly dragged Clary to the bottom of an endless dangerous rocky trench had now calmed down and were no longer there. Also, the lake of dark brown mud was calm and not boiling. Her eyes began to adjust to the darkness as now as she came upon the same exact dark tall brown forest of seaweed and she immediately knew she was on the right track.
Her tail relentlessly pushed against the fierce current, as she soon emerged from the once vast barren wasteland. The dark crystal waters temperature had begun changing, as it wasn't as uncomfortable nor as freezing cold as it was once before. Around Clary the familiar scenery of her home slowly began to come into view. The once dark hazy waters were now clear and transparent like crystal, with hints of blue and green hues. White sand replaced that of the yellowish grey lay along the seafloor, and various alive plants and sea creatures around her thrived in their habitats instead of what she'd seen before just endless death and despair.
The once bright, bustling city streets were now vacant and completely deserted. Many of the shops and the market stalls were closed up and locked up tight. Moonlight shone through the dark crystal waters upon some of the coral and stone roofs reflecting it's natural pale light. The small lanterns were lit and still glowed softly, warm yellow light gently coming to rest upon the smooth sandy floor.
Clary soon came upon the palace grounds, she noticed everything around her was quiet. The lights in every room inside the palace had been extingushed including the ballroom where the party she'd slipped away from had occurred. All of the occupants whom resided there seemed to be asleep for everything around her was quiet and still. The gardens and courtyard were silent as well for not a single soul appeared nor passed by, she swam over towards the palace gates, making a left on the right side.
The princess was very quiet as she swam past a row of black metal posts before going down another few feet. Her father, mother, brother, sisters and grandmother were most likely still asleep for it was still very late, the red-headed mermaid was very careful not to make a sound. Tentivately reaching for one of the metal posts, she eagerly grasped the cold metal between her fingers and very cautiously moved it to the side before slipping into the underwater passageway. She'd discovered the loose object one day by accident while sneaking out to meet Simon so that they could go exploring some of the caverns by the coral reefs.
That just so happened to be the day they'd discovered her secret grotto. A smile formed on her face of the memory for it was a wonderful one she would remember always. Swimming a little further she soon came upon the underground entrance which led right to the royal private chambers of her parents and siblings. It was a shortcut she had taken many times and now it was for the very last time. Inside it made her feel a little sad but she knew this wasn't the life she truly wanted to live. Carefully but cautiously opened the door, and slipped out into the quiet hallway before going into her room.
Shutting the door behind her, she set the witch light on her bed and placed her bag onto the floor. Clary picked up her sketch book and pencils from the table next to the window before placing them into the sack as well. She tore a sheet of paper from it and began scribbling a note to her parents and everyone else who came searching for her and left it on the desk for them to to find and read. Placing her bag over her shoulder she made sure it was secure before swimming up to the door.
Clary soon came upon the palace grounds. She noticed everything around her was quiet. The lights in every room inside the palace had been extinguished including the ballroom where the party she'd slipped away from had occurred. All of the occupants whom resided there seemed to be asleep for everything around her was quiet and still. The gardens and courtyard were silent as well for not a solitary soul appeared nor passed by, she swam over towards the palace gates, making a left on the right side.
The princess was exceptionally discreet as she swam past a row of black metal posts before going down another few feet. Her father, mother, brother, sisters and grandmother were most likely still asleep for it was still extremely late, the red-headed mermaid was very careful not to make a sound. Tentivately reaching for one of the metal posts, she eagerly grasped the cold metal between her fingers and very cautiously shifted it to the side before slipping into the underwater passageway. She'd fortunately discovered the loose object one day by accident while sneaking out to meet Simon so that they could go exploring some of the caverns by the coral reefs.
That merely therefore happened to be the day they'd discovered her secret grotto. A smile formed on her face of the memory for it was a extraordinary one she would cherish always. Swimming a little further she promptly came upon the underground entrance which led right to the royal private chambers of her parents and siblings. It was a convenient shortcut she had typically taken many times and now it realistically was for the very last time. Inside it instantly made her feel a little sad but she knew this wasn't the life she genuinely desired to live. Carefully but cautiously opened the door and slipped out into the quiet hallway before going into her room.
Carefully shutting the door behind her, she carefully set the witch light on her luxurious bed and precisely placed her bag onto the floor. Clary picked up her sketch book and pencils from the polished table next to the visible window before gently placing them into the sack as well. She tore a sheet of paper from it and began scribbling a note to her parents and everyone else who came searching for her and left it on the desk for them to find and read. Placing her bag over her shoulder, she made sure it was secure before swimming up to the door.
Clary peered through the tiny, confined space her pale eyes merely took into the peaceful, quiet hallway, as she carefully surveyed the area for any signs of movement or danger. It was silent as glittering glass; as she peered outside. Everything in the private corridor was peaceful, and yet despite it being a quiet night. She stood passively at the ornate door for just a mere moment looking back and forth right across the private corridor.
Her pale eyes carefully surveyed the specific area being very cautious before very leisurely swimming to secure it. She promptly moved to quickly close the door behind her. It creaked loudly by accident. She winced at the mere sound decided to knowingly cause and adequately secure it quietly. Not a solitary soul scarcely seemed to be nearby. She glanced cautiously both ways at the underground entrance of the palace making sure no one was nearby until then at last leaving.
While she was swimming by the palace entrance she instantly caught the sight of two familiar figures waiting eagerly by the gates. As they came more adjacent into view, she realized it was Simon and Magnus. Both of them seemed extremely sad and melancholy. The exact moment they caught sight of her they instantly went swam right to her. She was greeted by him, as he swam as fast his fins could haul him to the mermaid. Simon brown eyes were instantly filled with genuine happiness and mostly unspeakable relief, as he swam towards his best friend.
Simon was the first to reach Clary, flinging his brawny arms around her and hugging her tightly. She returned the embrace, burying her face into his shoulder, as he squeezed her into a huge bear hug.
"Thank the Angel you're all right. Clary, we thought you weren't coming back, and you were doomed," he said passionately, not relinquishing the fierce grip he had on her.
"Simon come on, you'll squeeze her to death if you don't let go," Magnus said.
"Oh right, I'm sorry," Simon replied, letting go of Clary.
She gave him a reassuring smile and tousled his tawny brunette curly hair, before turning to Magnus who grinned at her.
The warlock smiled fondly.
"I'm glad to see you made it back in one piece biscuit. We were worried about you," he said, giving her a warm embrace which wasn't as strong as Simon's.
Clary hugged him back and then turned to face them both again.
"So Clary was Lilith just as unpleasant and hideous as everyone said she was?" Simon asked with a beaming grin.
Magnus laughed delightedly."Did she have a bunch of slimy little toads and other disgusting pets?" he said.
"Oh I bet she looked like this," Simon replied, making a Godzilla like monster face, sticking his tounge out, while placing his left index finger underneath his eye, pulling the lid down.
His face in fact looked quite grotesque and deformed like that of a demon. Clary bit her lip to keep herself from laughing hysterically, but she couldn't hold back anymore. Her eyes brightened like they always did, as the circles under her eyes naturally started to appear. Her eyes shut closed, and her mouth widened in that of an expression of laughter. She opened her mouth and began to laugh, but not a distinct sound came out.
Simon's eyes widened in shock and sadness while Magnus remained calm but still in disbelief at what they just witnessed.
"Clary why aren't you laughing?" Simon asked in an anxious tone.
"Yeah Clare are you ill or something?" Magnus naturally wondered.
Clary's green eyes filled with sadness, as she bit her lip mostly out of nervousness, knowing that what she was about to tell them would make them extremely angry and hostile. But they were her best friends and inside she undoubtedly knew they would wholly understand. She hadn't dared to venture into the castle to say goodbye to her family, for now she could longer speak and was mute. If they ever found out what she'd done, they would be devastated and heartbroken.
She gently shook her head in response at their question before the words formed inside of her mind, knowing it would be impossible for her friends to hear them at all.
"No Simon, No Magnus. I'm not ill or anything. I can longer speak because I gave Lilith my voice in return for her magic to turn me human," she said.
Simon blinked a couple of times, her voice echoed from the isolated corners of his mind. For he'd heard very clearly, as did Magnus her exact words were clear as a star filled midnight sky. They could both hear her every word, very clear and distinctively.
"What?" her vivid eyes stared at them strangely, not quite comprehending what exactly was going on.
"You gave your voice to Lilith? Wow, I'm geniuely sorry Clary," Simon replied.
"At least you have a way of communicating with us. I'm sorry too biscuit," Magnus said.
Clary's green eyes lit up instantly, as she smiled knowingly they could both hear her. It made her happy she maintained some way of communicating with them, even though she would be mute for the rest of her life. She wasn't exactly certain how Jace was going to react when he found out but inside she was honestly hoping for the best.
"So Clary, does that mean you're leaving us forever now?" Simon naturally asked.
"Are you in fact leaving your home and us behind?" Magnus added.
Clary shook her head in a dismissive manner before responding their questions.
"No I'm not leaving you guys forever. I wanted to ask you both if you wanted to come with me. I know a little about the human world but not enough to make a life there. I genuinely need to learn as much as possible. Having you both there for support and to aid me adapt would really be amazing. If you both don't want too, I'll understand."
Simon's worried expression instantly changed from profound sadness to one much more cheerful. A genuine smile formed upon his youthful face at what Clary was sincerely asking them. He was born in these waters along with his longtime friends and knew them very well. The boundless ocean was his home but that all had completely changed when he met Isabelle. He genuinely never felt like he rightly belonged anywhere except when he was with his friends and family.
Truth to be told they always included him in any activities or family functions going on, but he had always felt there was something fortunately missing from his life. Simon longed for someone to connect with, and he didn't find it at home or in school until he met Clary and Magnus. He had always been a little reserved and quiet since he was a child, not quite making any friends right away when he was in school. For him it was problematic because people saw him differently, the cowardly bullies at school didn't help either.
When he met Clary and Magnus, they were the first genuine friends he'd ever had. The three of them immediately clicked and they were always there for each other through the good, bad and the plain unpleasant. They were always together and always shared everything. Clary and Magnus listened to him and offered he and him to the best advice as friends did the same for them.
Isabelle was the missing piece he'd been searching for. His soulmate. He looked for love his whole life, and she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. She made him laugh and feel good about himself always encouraging him to be the absolutely best person he could be. They would listen and communicate with each, supporting one another as well. He loved her and she loved him and it was time to make that real.
Magnus felt the same exact way that his friends were inevitably feeling. He triumphantly smiled a true genuine smile, for he knew exactly what Clary was naturally asking of him as well. The warlock was born in the same waters as his lifelong friends, and he also could navigate them well. The ocean was his home too, he thought it would be forever until he met Alec. When the Banes first visited and traveled to one of the south mer-kingdoms, before coming to Atlantis. They believed it would be a nice, peaceful place to settle down permanently and start their new lives together as a family. But pretty soon, Magnus's father William and his mother Syrena's looks became the talk of the town. His black hair, yellow cat eyes and carefree, easy going nature made him a target for the local bullies. They would tease him endlessly and relentlessly for being the half spawn of a human and a greater demon.
At first Syrena advised him to just brush it off and disregard them. He was able to for a while because they but after his dear mother died they promptly began to mock him no longer having a mother or father like they inevitably did. Frequent rumors allegedly began to swirl that Magnus wasn't William's biological son but he was the legitimate son of a well-known Greater Demon named Asmodeus. The demon resided in the shallow depths of hell and often traveled to the world above to make petty deals with mortals which would require them to pay him whatever he requested.
Magnus ultimately learned the truth that the demon prince was his real father and for a time he was very angry. His entire demeanor changed and he became withdrawn, agitated and furious. His once traditional cheerful nature gradually began to change, and he became much more temperamental and angry. The warlock soon began to lash out in anger and rage, which caused him to go after any who made fun of him or any of his friends or family members. But soon he met Clary and Simon and everything immediately changed. The three of them started hanging out together when they were six years old and did almost everything together. His life became so much better, he was more relaxed and his temper calmed down.
When he met Alec, the missing piece to his life was complete. Alec was his soulmate and they complimented each other very well. All of the pain and sadness he'd felt from his past disappeared, and everything fell into place. They loved each other and wanted to be together forever. Alec made him feel good and confident about himself and he did the same for him. They were always supportive of each other and so it was definitely time to make that happen for real.
"Clary I would be more than honored to come with you. Izzy and I are in love, and it's about time we were together forever so I'm in," Simon replied with a beaming grin.
Her pale eyes lit up like a candle and she hugged him happily at those words. It caused her heart to soar with happiness knowing he would be beside her. Simon had hugged her back before they both turned to Magnus to find out his answer. The warlock flashed them a huge dazzling grin.
"Of course I'll come with you guys. Like you both my soulmate is up there along with yours and it's about time Alec and I were together forever as well," Magnus said.
His two best friends faces lit up once again and they both hugged him tightly as soon as he said those words. Magnus laughed as he hugged them back before they let go of each other. Clary looked up towards the gleaming surface of the water, and she knew it would be dawn very soon so they all had to get a move on or else Lilith's magic would expire at sunrise the very next morning. She carefully adjusted the strap on her bag making sure everything inside was secure and they could promptly leave.
"You guys ready to go? Lilith said the magic she gave me will expire at sunrise," she said.
"By all necessary means then let's go," Simon said.
"Yeah we better get going," Magnus added.
The three of them each glanced at the palace and the city beside it one last time before they made their way to the darkened ocean's surface. It naturally felt as if they were rising lightly as bubbles, weightless and easy as they all swam towards the visible surface. Carefully looking over her shoulder, Clary looked at the place she'd called home for the last eighteen years of her life, and knew leaving it all behind wasn't going to be easy but she knew inside that she was finally getting the one wish she'd been wanting for the last two months granted.
Each of them burst through the water's shimmering surface, their lungs instantly taking in the fresh, cool air of the human world. Clary gently shook her drenched red hair sending tiny salty water droplets everywhere. Simon did the same thing, smoothing out the ends with his fingertips, while Magnus made sure his was intact. The night was beautiful, the dark ebony sky was littered with a thousand tiny stars embedded on the surface. A full silver moon hung in the air, it's pale light dancing on the dark ocean waters which were liquid obsidian. The fragrant air was cool adding a nice brisk relief to the warm saltwater. There were exotic trees and sandy beaches that alined the shorelines as the gentle waves crashed back and forth into the dark rocks that stood in the shallow water.
"It's just as beautiful as I fondly remember the very first night we came up here," Clary said, as warm breeze gentle caressed her skin, her green eyes taking in the scenery around her.
Simon smiled sheepishly."Definitely the moon is brighter and fuller than the last time I remember seeing it."
Magus nodded in agreement. "I agree with you both and there are certainly more stars in the moonlit sky than our last visit. You can even see some of the brilliant constellations from here."
The stars in the night sky twinkled brightly in the darkness adding a nice touch to the beautiful late autumn night. Simon then suggested they race one another to the shore, and Clary and Magnus both accepted. They flew across the water towards the sandy beaches right by a bunch of rocks in the distance. The moonlight danced across the onyx colored waters as Clary leaped in and out of the water, her green eyes set on the shoreline. Simon pounded his tail against the strong current while Magnus floated along enjoying the night sky.
They at length reached the shallow waters of the quiet sandy beach just as the visible moon was beginning to slowly descend into the night sky, which inevitably meant it was getting close to morning. Clary pulled herself out of the gleaming water, onto the glittering sand. Simon found a boulder to rest upon before he too pulled himself out of the ocean, sitting a couple of feet away from her. Magnus naturally followed a few minor seconds later sitting at ease a few yards away. The ocean waters gently moved in and out on the smooth pale sand, naturally reflecting the pale moonlight. Clary gradually reached into her bag and pulled out the crystal potion bottle.
Her green eyes locked on the ominously swirling green liquid, a pang of anxious anticipation stabbing at her already over-excited heart. Clary glanced backward, drinking in the welcome sight of the obsidian waves gently dancing beneath a pallid moon and star-strewn sky. She then looked back toward the land filled with rolling dunes of soft sand dyed silver by the night. The princess had undoubtedly gone one long enough in the world below. It realistically was time for her and her lifelong friends to get a much desired taste of the world above.
Taking a deep breath of the brisk night air, Clary clutched the bottle and popped the removable top off of it. A bitter-smelling wisp of something instantly swirled out of it, instantly making some very vague shape in the mild air as it gently rose. The princess thought, as she observed it swirl and dissipate that the shape almost looked like a skull, but she didn't take the time to contemplate it.
The mermaid's knuckles whitened on the bottle's spout and Simon and Magnus conveniently placed their hands hand over hers for moral support. She was shaking like a leaf. Her nerves were out of control.
"We'll swallow it together," Simon assuredly said.
Finally, Clary raised the potion to her lips and took a sip, holding the liquid in her mouth for a mere moment as she handed the bottle to Simon Magnus and watched them do the same. It tasted bitter like a horrid medicine...or perhaps poison. They all locked gazes, nodded...and simultaneously swallowed the mystical brew.
As the empty vial voluntarily left their lips, each of their alert eyes snapped open, while promptly letting out a sudden silent gasp. Clary intentionally let the vial escape from her fingers as she clutched eagerly at her throat, like she was choking. Simon and Magnus also began hyperventilating. It wasn't long until the fierce pain started to expand tremendously throughout their independent bodies. They could genuinely feel the agony spreading quickly through their very beings, as the friends instantly began to thrash on the dry sand.
To say the potion was painful would have been a severe understatement. As soon as the liquid slid down her throat, Clary felt as though she had completely swallowed a red-hot dagger of some kind. Unspeakable agony suddenly scattered throughout her body, instantly making her double over at the waist in unspeakable horror. She silently let out a shriek of moral agony, for nothing but incredible pain and fire existed in her conscious mind, blinding and deafening all of her familiar surroundings. She watched in horror as all of her scales began burning away, leaving small trails of blood that ran down her body. Even her visible tail didn't seem to be functioning correctly. It felt like it was in two sections and not one and she wondered if the hot burning dagger had suddenly fractured it in two.
Ugh it genuinely felt as if she had promptly swallowed eternal fire! The insides of her mouth began burning, like the red scorches of the red lotus on a beautiful sunset, tears began to fall from Clary's eyes as the burning sensation crept down from her stomach to her waist, as if someone had poured a jar of scalding fire or acid unto her tail.
Simon had bent over on his stomach, his fingers digging into the pristine sand, clutching at his chest. The profound pain itself was bewildering, more like unbearable. Those were the accurate words to adequately describe it. He literally couldn't make sense of what was happening precisely. His body attempted to unanimously reject the incredible pain, but he was sucked again and again into impenetrable darkness, a neverending void that cut out entire whole seconds of the unspeakable agony. It was strenuous to try and keep up with reality as his sense has been almost completely cut off. His tail grew rigid and began to stretch like elastic, bending just below his waists and thighs, and slightly above the very tip with an agonizing crack running in different directions. The bones in his tail began shifting, grating against one another. The identical exact thing was happening to Clary and Magnus.
Magnus was laying in the shallow water on his back, his arms stretched out above his head in the corresponding direction. The pain was now coursing through his entire body, as he feebly tried separating them. Reality had formed into two different colors reds and black. Nonreality was a complete black void. He felt as if he was being sawed in half by a sharp chainsaw or trampled to by a herd of elephants or bulls, or possibly submerged in acid. The scales located below his stomach fell away, and when Magnus finally looked down, a murky cloud of visible blood suddenly burst through the top of his thrashing tail from the very front to the back. More blood spurted. It sincerely felt as if a sharp double-edged sword had voluntarily cut his tail into two.
Clary couldn't even scream. Her scales began falling away. Soon one after another they began to burn away, her scales beginning to shoot out in a faster, quicker pace, brand-new skin forming where those scales used to be. She let out another silent scream while as her tail stretched like elastic and ripped into two separate pieces gradually forming into something else. Her prominent fins slowly snapped themselves off forming into two five small stumps on each side. Different colored skin instantly began to form where the green scales on her splendid tail used to be, smoothing themselves out and flattening, instantly taking on an ivory colored hue.
After a few more horrifying moments, the feeling promptly began to fade away. As Simon's senses slowly returned, he started to sit up along with Magnus who was now on his stomach, the ocean waters were up to his waist. The warlock glanced cautiously to the side, and instantly saw Clary sitting up in the shallow water, breathing heavily.
Clary's head pounded like a furious headache, as she struggled to regain consciousness, her arms wobbled a bit. She gradually diverted her eyes toward where her dark green mermaid tail had once been, but to her surprise, it was no longer there. Her once beautiful mermaid tail had been miraculously transformed into two long, slender human legs. Lilith wasn't lying, she had told the truth, her fingers ran over the satiny, pale skin which felt like living marble. Tears of happiness slowly began forming in the mermaid's eyes, as she struggled to hold them in. They were beautiful and perfect just like Jace's.
Genuine shock instantly ran through Simon as well as he glanced down, squinting in genuinely trying to make his groggy vision penetrate the distilled water. He could barely make out the form of visible legs...his legs. They were long, toned muscular, and perfect like just Izzy's. His fingers grazed the supple pale skin, which felt amazing compared to the jagged edges of his once sharp fins. His new legs equally precisely matched his skin tone as well. He was human just like his friends. Simon's eyes started to close, imagining Isabelle's face as the last thing he saw was the sky beginning to change color, before he fell into a deep slumber.
Magnus's dark brown eyes traveled down to his waist and surprise filled his whole body and mind. Two long human legs had promptly replaced his lavender brilliantly colored tail. The skin tone also matched which made him smile as well. He wiggled his toes for a moment as a huge grin formed on his face at how wonderful and fascinating these new strange things was. He had seen legs up close before, but never got to experience them for himself until now. Magnus felt his eyelids begin to droop as slipped into the world of dreams picturing a certain pair of blue eyes as he smiled, before he too was asleep as dawn began to approach.
A huge wave of relief washed all over them, especially Clary. The deal she made with Lilith had worked, and they all hadn't been cheated. She sighed, turning over on her back onto the pale sand, her pale eyes leisurely began to close. She and her friends were here presently, in the human world, where they rightly belonged. Allowing that one thought to remain in her mind, she relaxed on the sand and finally allowed the world of sleep and unconsciousness to consume her.