Old wounds.

Edward pushed through another bush and stepped over a stray root. He had transformed back to his human form as he got closer and closer to base camp. Explosions were going off in the distance and judging by the fire he assumed Natsu was involved.

It wasn't the only source of the explosions but it was definitely the most frequent. Edward frowned and looked around again. He thought base camp was somewhere around here but he wasn't sure. He failed to spot a small hole in the ground before it was too late.

"WHA!" Edward toppled down the pit before slamming into something soft and warm. Opening hi eyes he found a giant bunny looking at him.

"Oh… Edward." Lisanna greeted. Edward smiled up at her.

"Did I find base camp?" He asked. Lisanna shook her head and plopped him down to the new cave floor.

"No I'll come back and get you soon but could you look after Wendy, Carla and Panterlily until then." Edward looked at the three then back to Lisanna. He gasped slightly when he saw her. Her eyes were alight with determination. Fists scrunched together and shaking.

The passion of their guild burning brightly in her. Edward could say nothing as she left. He just slumped down onto his butt and hugged his knees. "I don't have that power." He murmured softly. He looked at Wendy asleep.

"You have that strength." He whispered softly. His gaze moved from her to a rock in the distance. Why do I not have that strength?

"Become a wizard! You aren't good enough!" Edward's teeth sank into his lip.

"I want this!" He hissed harshly to himself. "Damn anyone who tries to stop me."

Hades raised a barrier as Malacant charged into it. Blood magic clawed at the barrier as Malacant drove his shoulder into it. Hades flinched and raised one hand to maintain the strength of the shield but didn't respond.

Malacant growled savagely and started slamming his fists into magic. Each strike caused a bloody explosion to ripple off the shield. His two red eyes shining with anger. Hades smirked. Malacant suddenly felt an ungodly amount of weight on his back as black magic rushed from magic circles above him.

The weight was only there for about ten seconds but Malacant felt like he was being crushed for eternity. He was shoved deep into the ground. When the weight left him he was out of his demon force and bleeding heavily from his chest. Groaning softly he felt unconsciousness beginning to take hold of him.

"Have…. to… fight…" His thoughts and words were muddled by pain. Limbs and organs screamed at him to stop.

"Malacant…" Malacant's eyes shot open. That voice…

"Malacant…" It was Mira. He struggled to sense her but he found he couldn't sense anyone. He didn't know if there was pain or something physical blocking him.

"Malacant!" Malacant's breath tightened. She was in pain.

"MALACANT!"

A bloodcurdling and horrific scream pierced his ears. She flashed into his view for a second. She was curled on the floor, her skin was stained with blood and cracked with cuts. Her beautiful face twisted in horror and agony.

"Help me.." She whimpered. Unable to speak Malacant watched as a spasm of pain took control of her body. More cuts ripped through her muscles. Her clothes were reduced to tatters as the invisible sword ravaged her. Finally finding his voice he croaked.

"No…"

"Help me…" She whimpered.

"Save her…"

"I have to…"

"help…"

"help her…"

"release…"

"no…"

"please…help… me…"

"release… me…"

"I have to save…"

…

…

…

"RELEASE ME!"

Hades turned his head as the roar echoed from the creator. He was surprised the little fairy could still talk never mind yell. He waited curious to see if he would climb out again.

A huge wave of magic power suddenly rocketed from the centre of the hole. Hades took a step back in shock. As he did a claw snaked out of the hole and dug into the ground. A second soon followed it. Once both its hands were out the creature pushed itself out of the hole and Hades got a good luck at it.

Wolf-like, with long blood red claws and throbbing red eyes. The creature was foaming as well and blood was leaking out of its jaw. Hades was about to strike when it spoke.

"I must thank you." It slobbered when it talked as if its mouth was constantly filling up with blood. It sunk into an aggressive stance and Hades raised his hands defensively just in case.

"But I cannot be of any use to lord Zeref if a human can defeat me." Hades slowly lowered his hand. "You are in service to our lord?" The beast smiled and more blood leaked out of his mouth. "Our lord…"

The first strike was struck by Boaros. He leapt towards the Hunter with raised fists, attempting to smash him into the ground. The hunter leapt back and scrambled to his feet in order to fire a volley of arrows from his crossbow.

Boaros' foot slammed into the ground and a chunk of earth shot up to block the arrows. As they struck the rock they exploded violently. Boaros drove his shoulder into the rock smashing through it and the explosive bolts. He was met by a quick volley of purple arrows cutting through the air at such a high velocity that their soft hissing sound reached his ear a second after he cut through them with his sword.

The hunter grabbed a grenade from his belt and flung it. The bomb exploded mid-air and sent shrapnel everywhere. Boaros curled up into a ball. The sharp spikes dug into his shoulder and thighs but his front and arms were spared from the assault. He stood up quickly but the hunter had disappeared. He started to rip the tiny shards of shrapnel from him and spoke through clenched teeth.

"Coward. You were unable to face us so you tricked us. One who will not face their enemies is a coward." The hunter responded softly from the trees and as he did Boaros shut his eyes and stretched out with his mind reading trying to locate the elusive hunter.

"If that was how the world worked than the strong would just bulldoze the weak and rule everything. The Deandubh were a violent bloodthirsty group. They deserved death." Boaros whipped round and dived at a tree trunk his body lighting up with power.

"WE DESERVED PEACE!" He yelled smashing through the tree and slamming his fist into the hunter's white mask. The force cracked the beak and sent hunter reeling. Boaros leapt on him and grabbed his head. With a rough push he slammed the man's head into the ground. He grabbed again but this time he entered his mind.

He would make him experience his worst memory over and over again. Boaros felt the man's hands claw at his face as Boaros ripped precious memories from his head and read them searching for the lingering pain and sadness the indicated a sad memory. He found it! In an instant both man and demon were flung into the world of the memory.

Boaros landed on his feet and the hunter toppled to the floor. He tried to right himself but Boaros grabbed him in a head lock and forced him to focus on the scene.

"Get out of my head." The hunter tried to yell but the pressure around his neck was making his voice come out in gasps.

"Watch." Boaros hissed violently tugging the man's head to face the only people in the memory. A pair of people on a beach. The sun was setting in the background and it illuminated the two figures. One was kneeling and the other was clenching something close to their chest.

"Yes!" The one standing practically screeched and leapt onto the one on the ground. Boaros felt the hunter stiffen.

"Kiara." He rasped. Boaros was unsatisfied and ripped them from the memory into another.

This time they were in a hospital. A woman screamed an exhausted scream and a crying eoched throughout the room. The memory shook as Boaros found himself feeling sick with how intimate he was to this man's mind.

"Henry?" The man cried softly but Boaros ripped them away and tried to pull them out. He had had enough of this. It was causing him increased discomfort and disgust. As he pulled them out he found one more memory.

This one was closely guarded and close to the man's spiritual centre. Boaros felt curiosity pull him. Destiny was calling him to this memory. As he drew closer to it he felt the man struggle against him.

A mental barrier walled him from the memory. Doubt clouded Boaros for a second but an overwhelming urge drew him to the memory. He shoved past the mental barriers and entered the memory.

The hunter was rushing up a flight of stairs and stopped when he reached a cave entrance that Boaros knew well. It was one of the many entrances to the hive mine of tunnels that was mount Deandubh.

"Stop!" He yelled pulling a crossbow and levelling it at a small hooded figure. The brown robes billowed in the moon light covering the cave entrance in a white glow. The figure turned slowly and revealed his face. The black skin and round blue eyes identified him instantly as a Deandubh. In his arms was a small bundle. The hunter's shoulders sagged. "H…Henry?" The baby's skin was pitch black, its eye. Blue, wide and expressionless.

"Henry is dead." The deandubh said softly before turning around. "Boaros is one of us."

It was as if Boaros was flung into a pool of ice water. He fell back on to his rear as he was sprung from the dream to reality. His head flared with thoughts so fast he was becoming dizzy. In an instant vomit was in his mouth and he was retching onto the ground.

Once he was finished in a mad panic he leapt to his feet but they turned to water under him and his head spun again causing more vomit to cascade from his mouth covering the floor in black sludge.

His face received a wet slap as he fell into his own sick. It couldn't be true. He kept repeating to himself. It couldn't be true. His childhood had been filled with purpose. No joy so to speak but belonging and the clan looked out for each other.

How could they. He slowly pushed himself up so he was supporting himself on his hands and knees. The vomit had stopped flowing and he felt some strength return to him. It can't be true. He thought again and this time managed to convince himself.

It was a trick.

The hunter probably knew a way of messing with his memory reading.

That was… it…

The glimmer of hope was slashed when he saw a single drop of blood drop from his mouth. Deandubh blood was black and thick like paste. This blood was red. Deep crimson like Malacant's eye. In that instant Boaros knew it was true.

That blood was not Deandubh blood. He thought as it was swallowed up by the black pool beneath him.

That's human blood. A soft click came from behind him. I guess he was right. Boaros thought softly.

Maybe my people don't deserve to live.

"BOAROS! MYTHICAL TRANSFORMATION MINOTAUR!" Boaros felt Edward crash into the hunter sending him flying way.

Edward dug his hoofs into the ground and prepared for another charge. The hunter was laying dumbstruck in the ground.

"Boaros?" he said softly. Boaros got to his feet and looked at the hunter sadly. The Hunter's eyes were visible through his smashed mask. They were staring at Boaros with disbelief.

"Son?"

Author's Notes:

Sorry about being extremely late updating. It was a mix of three things.

1. I have been writing my own original story for my own pleasure and that has been serving as my writing indulgence.

2. School has been ridiculous. Homework study and the Leaving Cert in a few months. I have had very limited free time.

3. I had insane writer's block with this story and I just couldn't come back to it.

I apologize but I make no promises about updates. I'll try my best. but until I say so this story is not dead.

Until next time.

Ninja-Cat Sif