"Wow, look at you."
The voice came from behind him. The soft, loveable, pleasant feminine voice that he'd heard many times before. The voice that he could listen to all day, every day. The voice that he had listened to all day every day, many times before.
Simon Lewis was stood in front of the mirror, frantic about his attire, trying to make sure he looked perfect. Still looking in the mirror, he could see the reflection of the girl stood behind him, leaning against the door frames. His face lit up.
"Clary," was all he needed to say. She smiled back at him and walked towards him. His memories had been returning to him over the last few months, but his affections for this girl, this wonderful, precious girl right infront of him, had all returned. They weren't romantic feelings, they were the feelings one had for someone who was your best friend and your sister all at once.
He turned from the mirror and looked at Clary, who was looking back up at him with such love and pride in her eyes. She started straightening his tie. "Anyone would think you were getting married," she said with a wink.
"Haha, very funny," he replied, "Not quite yet. Maybe, if I survive today, we can think about it."
"You will survive. Of course you will. After everything you've done, there is no way you won't survive today."
"I was a vampire through most of that, though."
"Like that matters. Yeah sure your strength and senses were fantastic but even with a non-beating heart, it was one of the biggest hearts anyone could have. Especially for a vampire." She winked again. Simon smiled, but it was a weak, almost forced smile. Clary frowned. "Simon, are you absolutely sure you want to do this? 100% sure? Are you sure you're ready to leave your family?"
"I'm sure. I've never been more sure of anything. Besides, incase you forgot, my mom had already kicked me out once and declared me legally dead, so what does it matter, really?"
"But your sister..."
"She'll be okay. Besides, now that my memories are coming back, I won't ever be able to lead a normal life again. My life is in the Shadow World and it always will be."
"Pfft, who wants a normal life anyways?" Clary laughed. Simon grinned. "Have you decided on a Shadowhunter name to take up yet?"
"Hmm. No. I don't want to take up Lightwood, because I'll never be a Lightwood, and I don't think Jace would appreciate me choosing Herondale, either. I'm sure I'll think of something before we get there. What about you, anyways? Are you ready to become a Herondale?"
"Ha. I can't wait to become a Herondale. I know I've used 'Fray' all of my life...but it just doesn't feel right anymore. I'm a Morgernstern now. That's what everyone has been calling me. Clary Morgernstern. I'll always be known as 'Valentine's Daughter' but maybe, once I'm a Herondale, maybe people will start to see me as just Clary."
Simon smiled again. "Clary Herondale, the girl who defeated her father, Valentine, and her brother, Sebastian, and saved the world! Clary Herondale, the heroine." Clary smiled again, but this time there was a deep sadness in her eyes. The sadness of gaining and losing the brother she'd always wanted as soon as she got him. "Sorry, Clary, I didn't mean..."
"I know," she said softly, and gently stroked his cheek, "Are you ready? Everyone's waiting to leave and Magnus is getting impatient waiting to open the portal."
"Yeah, I'm ready. Let's go."
They left Simon's room and went to meet everyone outside the Institute. As soon as they got outside, Magnus started to open up a portal. Maryse went through first, and then, after kissing Magnus on the cheek, Alec followed her. Jocelyn and Luke went through next. Jace stood waiting for Clary, who squeezed Simon's hand, smiled, nodded and then went to join Jace. Jace went through the portal, and then Clary. Simon stood staring at the portal, terrified.
"Simon? Are you alright?" Isabelle said. She took his hand. "Why do you look so petrified? You've used portals before."
'It's not that," Simon replied, "It's just...it's weird. This will be my third time going to Idris. Twice as a Downworlder and now as a mundane. Two things Shadowhunters look down on. It's just weird."
"But you won't leave as a mundane. Besides, nobody looks down on you now. Everyone knows what you did for the Nephilim, and nobody will ever forget that. Why do you think a lot of people are coming today? Gods, half of Alicante is coming!"
"If I survive..." he said, with a lot of uncertainty in his voice.
"Simon. Simon, look at me. Look at me," Izzy said, cupping his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. "You will survive. Not everyone is cut out to be a Shadowhunter, and some mundanes have died in the past, but not you. Not you. You will survive this, because you are the strongest mundane I've ever known. You know more about our world than any mundane I've ever had the misfortune of meeting. You're going to do this."
Simon let the words sink in. Not just the words, but the way Isabelle said it too. She had such certainty, such absolute faith that he was going to survive it that he had starting believing it himself. He looked straight at her, straight in to her eyes, and he knew, right there and then, that everything was going to be okay. She let go of his face, and dropped her hands so that he could take hold of them. They walked towards the portal.
"Finally," Magnus said, "Now hurry up and get through, it's starting to weaken me."
"Sorry," Simon mumbled. He took a deep breath, and then stepped through.