I was bored, and this happened. Please don't kill me if it's bad.

-BrielleXandY

As we left the shop area, we took refuge in an empty alley between two shops. Natsu cursed as he laid Lucy down, saying something about a girl named Wendy. I was curious to who she was, but I felt as if it wasn't the best time to ask.

Before doing anything, I counted all of Lucy's keys, relieved that they were all there. According to their previous misadventures, enemies had always either been after Lucy, her keys, or her magic. I was glad she was still breathing as I laid her brown pouch down, looking up at the others for any ideas.

"Well, Cadence, don't you have a magic song thingy that'll heal her?" Natsu inquired gruffly, causing me to roll my eyes. "My magic doesn't work like that. I have to make up songs, try them out- if I make one up on the spot, it might do the exact opposite of what I want it to do!" I argued, racking my mind for anything that might help our situation.

Lucy moved slightly, causing her arm to go limp and fall off her body, where it'd been neatly placed. Inspecting her pale arm for a moment, I noticed a dart-like object lodged in her wrist. "Guys- take a look at this." I called their attention to the object, careful not to pull it out.

Erza bent down and inspected the dart, quickly pulling it out much to my chagrin. "Why didn't you pull it out? It's not barbed." A sweat drop appeared on the side of my face as I awkwardly scratched the back of my neck. "I was gonna pull it out, I swear." I replied as Erza investigated the end of the dart.

"It's not a lethal poison- she jumped in front of Lady Kingston, didn't she? Maybe they were trying to kidnap the clients, and were knocking them out for a ransom." Erza told us, throwing the dart into a dumpster.

Lucy took a deeper breath, but was still sleeping. While Erza had been talking, I'd been pondering a few words that could be used to help her. "Let me see if this works- if it looks like she goes into a trance and is having a nightmare, stop me and promptly slap me in the face." I instructed, closing my eyes and hovering my hands over Lucy's midsection. My hands glowed the same green they usually did, although white tendrils of energy were absorbed into Lucy's body as I sang, closing up most of her outward injuries.

"Let the bells ring and chime

Celestial wizard, heal with my rhyme

Make a shooting star

Prevent a deep scar."

I peeked one eye open, afraid that I'd hurt the blonde, but I was glad that she appeared much better. "Alright, that should work for now. We need to get her to some type of infirmary, though, so someone who could just as well kill her instead of heal her can get to work." I stood up slightly unsteadily, having to lean against a wall to stay upright. I didn't have the best magic pool, so I ran out quickly after using magic for a long period of time, especially after using a spell that took my magic and infused into someone else.

The others took notice in my exhaustion, but said nothing. They understood that I was embarrassed at my lack of magical stamina, which was the worst thing to have trouble with as a wizard. Quinton walked over to us calmly, taking a glance at Lucy. "I'll make my father pay for all medical expenses. However, my mother would like to secure us at a hotel of some type until we make another plan. Obviously, the enemies of our family know where we are, and will most likely follow us wherever we go."

Gray clenched his fists and stood up, getting in his face. "It doesn't matter who pays for anything, it matters if our friends get hurt. At this point, I don't want your money. We're gonna get these jerks back for hurtin' Cadence and Lucy." Everyone turned their head to look at me, which caused me to twist my face into a frown and look away. "I'm fine. Lucy's the only one who's seriously hurt." I replied, my eyes tracing down to my shoes, which were dirty and worn from the fight.

"I'm sure you'll want to avenge your friend, and you'll be given the chance very soon, I'm sure." Quinton reassured us, putting up his hands in a defensive state. With his message received, I caught a passing glance of him turning around, watching me in the corner of his eye. Had I done something wrong?

I sighed and saw Erza motion for Natsu to pick up Lucy again. "I think I saw a hotel that they can stay in." The redhead muttered. "Cadence, Natsu, you two take Lucy to the hospital. Once Gray, Gildarts and I secure those three in the hotel, I'll come and find you two." I saw Gray about to speak up about something, but he fell quiet after a sharp look from Natsu. Finding it impossible to decipher what that was about, I simply nodded and walked as steadily as I could towards the road. Natsu allowed me to lead, and the group split up.

Much too late, however, we'd find that this was the worst mistake that we could have made. Once Quinton had been separated from me, the plan had been set into action. One hour from now, we'd find what that plan was; I'd never forgive myself for what would happen that day, either.