A/N: Question. Would you guys and girls like to see the rest of the dragons in this story? I can try to find some images for everyone to look at. So let me know if that's what y'all want. Now onto the story.

****Alec's POV****

It had taken a short morning hour to get home, inform his parents of the situation, and be off again. Unsurprisingly, Izzy and Simon wanted to tag along, but he had politely declined their offer with the notion that it was best off only one dragon head into the heart of human territory instead of many. As he was the one who had the dream in the first place, it was only fair he take the risk.

However, it had been strange that Jace was nowhere to be found. His platonic had the tendency to know where Alec was at all times, including when he was returning home from trips. He would've been a welcome exception, a tag along that would've made sense. Platonic are meant to stand side by side, brave the storm together. Going it without him would be strange, but at least Jace was off somewhere happy with Clary. He still didn't approve of the redhead (shocker) but as no one else seemed to mind her he supposed he would tolerate her annoyance in his life for now.

At least I'm not alone.

Magnus gripped the spines on his back tightly, palms sweaty as they slicked up dry scales. The sun rose over the tree tops as dawn set into afternoon. Wind whistling in his ears, Alec allowed himself to relax against the current. They'd likely stop for lunch somewhere before walking the rest of the way to Alicante. There was something to be said about what reaction they would receive by flying into the heart of the city —or so Magnus said and Alec suspected— so the two came to a mutual agreement to be incognito as possible when they arrived. Hence why he was getting in the last bit of flight time now.

"Sooooo what's the king like?" Alec asked.

Magnus thrummed his fingertips on one of his scales. He felt the small vibrations the same way one would feel the vibrations of a cat as it rubbed along your legs. "He's kinda like most kings I guess, just with a whole hatred towards dragons and all."

"Hmm, because of your Mother." Alec murmured.

"Yeah. Because of Mom." Magnus's voice went hoarse, making Alec strain to hear him over the whipping wind.

"But he didn't hate dragons before that did he?" Alec asked.

The thrumming stopped. "No. I don't think so. Then again, I was very young when it all happened so I might not be the best judge on that front. A lot of the townspeople say Dad has never trusted dragons, always thought they were too powerful for their own good and that power can pose a threat, a danger to his people. But, before Mom I know he didn't kill a dragon."

"Hmm, I guess he's a cautious one then. Guess I can't blame him, my parents have always been cautious rulers too. I—" Alec swallowed against the heavy lump forming in his throat. It had been sometime since he thought about him and whenever he surfaced the weight of despair came crashing down.

"What is it? Why are your parents cautious?"

"How do I put this . . . we lost someone too. Several years ago."

The vaguest way of an explanation did nothing to settle the guilt pressing down. Because even after King Asmodeus had announced his hatred towards dragons, plans to murder them all, that hadn't stopped dragons from wanting to be free and happy. They still wanted to enjoy life in the air, none more so than him. Alec missed him dearly, so did Izzy and Mom and Dad. A little fragment of their hearts stolen years ago right as it was beginning to grow.

"Oh. Who was it?"

Alec sighed. "My brother. My little brother."

"I-I see. I didn't even realize you had one." Magnus murmured.

"You wouldn't have been made aware in the first place if not for me. Hardly anyone mentions him anymore. It's like they've all forgotten him."

Save for Izzy. There were nights when they would fly to his grave together, sing songs of sorrow and what could've been. It was their first recognition of the dangerous threat humans posed to them, losing one of their own. The Lightwood royal family were rarely the targets of an enemy —no one would dare attack dragons so well protected— but he had been different. He did not look like a Lightwood. Small, scrawny, the starry patterns on his wings almost nonexistent against his whitish gray scales. But the biggest difference about him had always been his eyes. Two different colors: red and blue.

"That must be hard."

"It is."

"Alec! Alec! Help me!"

If only he'd gotten there quicker. The same guilt drenched his sister all the worse. Because she had been there, and she too had failed to save him in time. Save him from his fate. No dragon survived the wrath of a hunter once taken. Not a single one. And he had been far too small to save himself. Small and helpless, yet still wanting to be free. So Alec wanted that for his people, but fear of losing someone like that again was ever present at the back of his mind. Because what happened to his brother could just as easily happen to one of his dragonets someday.

"Is that why you were so distrusting of us at the start?" Magnus asked.

Alec gave a small nod. "It was certainly one of the reasons. I don't want to lose anyone else Magnus." I don't want to lose you either though, so this is a risk I have to take. He had to find a way to bridge the divide for both of their sakes.

"I see."

"But Magnus, I'm not going to shut out peace because I've lost. Otherwise I never would have let you into the valley in the first place. I never would've even given you a chance." He hoped his words brought the point home.

And it seems they did.

"I'm guessing your saying this because you knew."

"Yep. I knew you presented a danger the moment I saw you by the waterfall. There was an aura about you . . . a threatening aura. But, now it's shifted." Alec told him.

"It has?" Magnus asked, what sounded like trepidation in his voice.

"Yes, and it's up to you to decide if that's a good thing or not."

The rest of the ride was in silence, till they finally did touch down at a bar on the outskirts for lunch. And during that silence thoughts were pondered and beliefs long held were considered.

****Clary's POV****

The flash of bright light had her eyes slamming shut. A new, strange sensation broke out inside her. A scream bubbled up from her lungs as she gasped unbidden. Clary curled in on herself as the world shifted, stomach tossing up bile as something broke inside her and a fundamental shift of everything occurred.

"AAAAAAAHHHHH!"

She crumpled in full, hands slipping into the warm water along with her legs. How both managed to weakly hold her up was beyond her, yanking and yanking at her core. Dizziness mixed with nausea as all the colors of the world bled together and she sobbed.

"Clary! Clary, are you okay?" Jace asked frantically. One of his clawed hands was prodding at her. And somehow it was grasping her shoulder alone and not the rest of her like she had grown used to.

"Ugh!" She swayed in place. How she managed not to wretch was beyond her. The water rippled around her, green eyes finally opening to take in the scenery around her.

Only to widen in shock.

Jace was beside her in his dragon form. And normally he would have towered over her, to the point where it would take five or six of her to measure up to him. Their height difference still existed but now . . . it was so much smaller.

The reason?

Well, it had been the result of her small gasp. Instead of human skin she was met with bronze scales. The silvery light of the pool did nothing to change their gleam as they pulsed with an aura she had never seen before. Her body felt simultaneously three sizes too big but also just right. She panted out puffs of air, trying to make sense of it all.

"Hey. Take it easy, just breathe." Jace was telling her.

That clawed hand was rubbing reassuring circles on her scales her scales! and she was leaning into his touch. Each small movement was soothing to her, spreading heat through her new bodily systems. New limbs not there before —wings and tail— twitched. They were oddly heavy, like there were weights pinning them down.

"I-I . . . how is this even possible." She managed to stutter out.

It was all too easy for Clary to sit down, tail disappearing completely beneath the water. Clary caught one glance of it before it submerged in full, surprised to see the intricate spines poking out on the end. It was almost like a quill feather, those bronze scales transitioning from reddish brown to a deep sunset red before transitioning completely to a white-gold at the very tip. She was reminded of a small flame, small but potent in its brilliance. A glance at her wings her wings confirmed a similar style.

"I had a feeling I was right . . . Glad I was proven correct." Jace flashed her a smug grin. "As to how it's possible, I think it's pretty clear. Your parents were dragons Clary."

"I . . . That can't be right. My Mom—"

"Is only present mentally half of the time. Would it really be that far fetched for her to not have told you everything." He pointed out. Jace was still speaking softly to her, his golden wings curled up at his back.

She thought about it. All those years of her mother's blank stares, Luke being hesitant to talk about why she was that way, her own mysterious feelings leading up to this moment. There was no strange feeling fizzing inside her anymore. Like the Cave's namesake, the truth inside her had been revealed. She had nothing to hide. But the same can't be true for the people we left behind.

"I guess you have a point. And one thing is clear to me."

"What is it?" Jace asked.

Clary straightened up. Her clawed hands scrabbled against the smooth stones. The warm water was soothing to her joints, making her muscles relax further. With all this rippling water there wasn't a clear image to look at, just what glances her eyes could make of her new features.

"I seriously need to talk to my Mom."

"Hmm, I'm not surprised you'd say that but . . ."

"But what?" She asked.

"Well, in your current state that might be a little hard." Jace flicked a clawed hand at her. "I mean, you look amazing and so, sooooo beautiful, but two dragons can't just walk up to Alicante without catching attention."

"Then teach me how to shift." This new form was great but this new perspective height wise was a bit daunting to say the least.

Jace shook his head. "I'd tell you that's easier said than done, but you won't take no for an answer will you?"

"Nope." She flashed him a grin.

"Hah. Very well then, but let's get out of here first."

"Fair enough." Clary murmured.

She attempted to get back up, legs shaking unsteadily. And she almost got out of the water, only to trip on a big stone right before her tail came out of the water, dripping with droplets. Jace was right there to catch her, golden wing stretching over her back protectively. She was drawn against him. The way he held her upright kept her limbs lax, her wings sagging without conscious thought.

"Just stay with me. You'll get used to this soon enough." Jace smiled fondly at her.

"Alright." She agreed breathlessly, glad to share heat with him as they made their way out together.