Author's Notes: I do not own Fairytail nor do I make any money from posting this story.

This story came from a request made by ObeliskX. Thank you so much for your patience in waiting for me to get my lazy butt in gear. I hope you like it. The request was for a gender bend Erza and Jellal fic. I got a little carried away and swtiched everybody's sex.

I hope the different names isn't too off putting. I tried to get as close as I could and left the names that I thought would work with both sexes.

Ezra = Erza, Lucas = Lucy, Wendell = Wendy, Gajeella = Gajeel, Miren =Mira, Juvien = Juvia, Canaan = Cana

This story is rated for strong language and for a possible lemon in the future.

I walk. My steps were measured and monotonous. Since before the sun had risen to bleed gold and rose colors into the sky I had been walking down this path. The earth and sky were still. The air was quiet. There was little movement in the trees or on the ground. Nothing stood out to me. The constant scraping of my feet against the gravel road was the only thing that made me feel like I had actually journeyed anywhere. The land all looked the same. The collection of trees seemed to stretch infinitely into the distance. I would be doomed to walk this path for the rest of my days searching for the end and searching for the answers I sought.

My journey was one of salvation. I sought to free myself from the past and correct the wrongs I had done. Hopefully along the way I could find some measure of happiness for the people I had made suffer. Maybe if I was lucky I could find I small piece of it for myself. Happiness was something I secretly longed for but surely did not deserve. I selfishly pursued it anyways.

My steps now were in part to find that happiness.

Maybe that's why the row of trees seemed endless and the heat so unforgiving. Maybe something was trying to tell me that I didn't deserve what I was after. Instead it would just lay before me forever out of reach.

Of course my mind was the only real hindrance. I had debated for months on weather this particular stretch of my journey was necessary. I didn't need to go back. I didn't need to see him. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to. He had his own life now. His had made a new family composed of fiercely loyal friends. I wasn't needed in his life anymore. In fact I'd only remind him of the past and drag up all those painful memories again. It still called to me though. Somewhere I knew I would never be completely free of my past until I made amends with him. I couldn't say that I had made up for my sins if I didn't at least try to heal the hurt I caused in him. However, I am no fool. I know the forgiveness I seek is unattainable. I am aware of that and yet some part of me is still afraid of what he'll say when I finally see him. The thought was almost enough to keep me away but I can't let myself be stopped by that level of cowardice. I must continue moving forward so I walk.

At least the heat of the noonday sun had become strong and somewhat distracting. I could taste the dry heat in the back of my throat and the dust from the road coated my face. The sweat on my face must have left trails of clean flesh as it slowly slide down my cheeks. My whole body was uncomfortably sticky and soggy with sweat and with no wind did nothing to cool my skin. I had long since brushed the hood of my cloak off my head to avoid trapping in more heat. I hadn't seen another traveler for days and had no need to hide my face from the trees. I absently ran my fingers through the moist locks of my hair at the nape of my neck trying to create some feeling of coolness. Of course I felt nothing. I combed my fingers through the dark blue tendrils and lowered my hand in defeat.

Traveling was always better at night for multiple reasons but the thought of resting in the heat of the day seemed impossible. Movement was best. Laying still in this heat would only serve to amplify its effects. Besides I was close. I would be in town soon despite how my journey seemed I knew that I was almost there. I would arrive by night fall. They say that longing to be someplace makes the journey seem endless. No one ever said the same thing about dread but it was true.

The guild hall was loud and boisterous as always. It was packed with all the familiar faces and familiar flares of false anger. The sounds of a hundred voices floated through the air clashing into each other creating nothing more than a mummer of constant noise. Ezra sat alone silently away from all the clatter stoically watching all the passing faces. He sat at a corner table with his back to the wall allowing him to gaze the full room. He was nursing a cup of ice tea and contemplating when he should go on his next job.

Lately, he had neglected his S class status in favor of working with three of the other mages in the guild. They had been forced to team up when a dark guild took position of one of the instruments of Zeref. It was out of necessity then. Ezra was usually a solo kind of guy but he found that he did work quite nicely with the others. He might even admit that he liked their company.

Their skills were of course unmatched besides for the newest member. Lucas had the potential for greatness but he still need more experience. Natsu had taking quite a liking to him though and served as an excellent guide.

Watching the two interact was somewhat cute. It was clear to Ezra that Lucas was attracted to the fierce pink haired mage but the girl was rather dense. She'd rather spend her time arguing with the guild's ice make wizard.

Honestly, Natsu and Gray's cat fights really pissed him off sometimes. They always managed to wreck the hall leaving half of the place burned and the other half frozen solid. However, when it came down to he knew he could depend on both of them to fight hard with the greatest resolve. Natsu greatest strength was he sentimentally. While Gray had a tremendous sense of justice. The four of them had made a great team and did well together when the guild was attacked by Phantom. Ezra wondered though if it was time for him to go solo again. After all the rent wasn't cheap especially with all the space he needed for his armor. He had a feeling though that his newly acquired teammates might just feel the need to invite themselves along. After what happened on Galuna Island Master did declare that S class missions could be attempted by anyone as long as an S class wizard came with you. Even without the rule Ezra still expected them to tag along if they found out.

Speak of the devils.

"Hi, Ezra," Natsu waved happily her face plastered with a huge smile. Her food obsessed cat came flying in over top of them with a fish in her hand and a loving look on her furry face. That cat liked fish so much he wondered what she would be like high on catnip. Natsu took the liberty of sitting down without even bothering to ask if it was okay.

She was her usual clueless cheerful self that didn't seem to notice or care that S class mage liked some alone time on occasion. She sported her usual sleeveless navy blue top that modestly covered her up to her neck but accentuated her ample chest by tightly hugging her body. She wore white baggy pants and scandals. Her dragon scale patterned white scar was wrapped delicately around her neck with the loose ends flung over her shoulders. Her soft pink hair fell into her eyes and cascaded over her shoulders at odd angles. Only a small portion of her hair was long the rest of it was cut shorter framing her face with its unruliness.

Ezra managed a small smiled. The good natured wizard always did manage to loosen him up.

"Whattcha doin' all by yourself you should come join the rest of us."

He sighed and smiled wider, "why are you that desperate to have me join the brawl?"

"Yeah," she said her voice filled with zealous confidence, "so I can take you on and show you I am the better wizard."

Before Ezra could say anything he could hear two voices approaching them.

"I said I don't want it."

"But my love I bought it for you so that-"

"Are you trying to say I stick or something?"

Ah the love birds. Gray was once again trying to dissuade her admirer from his affections. The water mage was trying to woo her this time with a bottle of some rather expensive looking perfume. That man seriously had no shame. Couldn't he understand she wasn't interested?

Gray took refuge at their table and inserted herself into the conversation doing her best to ignore her suitor. "Is this flame idiot bothering you?" she asked taking an immediate jab at Natsu. The pink haired mage's temper was legendary as she could literally go up in flames at the drop of a hat.

"I'm not but you are with you are as the guild stripper."

Somehow the beautiful ice mage managed to look embarrassed and frantically search for her clothes. Her lack of dress was so common most of the men (and competitive women) in the guild had a beating pool going for what bra she was going to wear that day. Some of the more perverted guild members claimed to know that they had seen every bra she owned and they somehow managed to declare it with pride. The girl must have realized it was a problem because her undergarments were always quite sexy. Today she wore a white lace bra that sort of looked like two snowflakes. Ezra let his eyes lazily follow her as she searched for her missing top. He would never say so out loud but he rather liked the snowflake bra on the ice mage. It suited her magic and went well with her short black hair. She got away with her nudist personality because it was rather nice eye candy and strangely enough she always fought more seriously without her shirt off. Maker mages are weird.

Ezra pulled his eyes away from the pretty wizard and brought his ice tea up to his lips. Natsu's short attention span already had her picking a fight with another one of her rivals. Man does this shit ever end. The guild's four dragon slayers were always in competition with each other. To his credit though Wendell did try to stay out of most of the others shenanigans. He was the only male dragon slayer that we know of and he was still young. He was strong and powerful in his own right but preferred to stay out of unnecessary violence. Natsu was currently reacting to a biting comment from Gajeella. The iron dragon slayer was highly standoffish and arrogant. She kept to herself for the most part but she definitely enjoyed setting Natsu off if for nothing else to escape boredom. She had just came into the guild and whispered a snide remark to Natsu as she passed by. She flipped her long thick black hair over her shoulder as she spoke and sauntered off as if she had said nothing. The flames of her anger burned into Natsu eyes as she rose and went after the other dragon slayer. Gajeella smiled wickedly and turned to fight off Natsu the skirt of her black dress swaying as she moved. Ezra watched as she swung her arm to hit Natsu his eyes falling on the iron band she wore around her upper arm. Natsu avoided the blow but unfortunately for her or for the repair man depending on who you ask she slammed into Laxus in her attempt to dodge.

"What are you idiot's doing?" she asked in her clear and menacing voice. She glare at them from under her blonde locks raising elegantly from her seat at the bar. Her black heeled boots clicked against the floor waiting for an answer. Her arms were crossed under her supple chest.

"It's ain't my fault that Salamander can't take a hit," Gajeella offered knowing full well were that was going to lead.

Natsu launched herself at her and another all-out brawl ensued as furniture began to be tossed around the room. The drunken shouts of Canaan soon filled the air as he hugged a beer keg to his bare chest trying to protect it. He of course joined the raging battle when the alcohol was inevitably knocked over. As did Miren when he was hit with a flying chair. His pure, white hair tied in a high ponytail swinging as he fought. Juvien and Lucas also found their way into the battle. Juvien to protect his Gray who proceeded to curse at him that she didn't need his help. Lucas because his dinner had been stepped on.

Ezra calmly sipped his tea trying avoid the battle at all cost. Really they could all be so immature. He closed his eyes and tried to ignore the sounds of his guild mates wrecking the place for the second time that evening. He counted slowly in his head and tried to concentrate on the sweet taste of the tea. His efforts failed when the glass was knocked out of his hand splashing tea and ice on to his armored chest. He slowly looked up. "Who threw that?" he asked knowing his voice sounded menacing. He stood slowly from his seat and stretched out his right hand. A sword materialized in his grip and he focused his glare on the wild pack of mages in the room. He had gotten their attention for only a moment before they resumed the battle. Ezra couldn't help but smile to himself as he ran into join the fray. Isn't this why he joined this guild?

Night had fallen on the town of Magnolia before Ezra made his way out the guild hall. His mind was occupied on the fight and how Natsu did indeed try to get the best of him. Of course it didn't quite end well for her in fact the whole battle ended before she could stand up and try to strike again. The Master had finally had too much and ended the fight as abruptly as it started. Natsu was not a good listener though and had to be told to stop a second time with the added stigma of being squished by a giant fist. Ezra stepped out into the streets and enjoyed the cooling night air. It was a much needed break from the day's heat. He glanced up into the vast sky and was greeted by thousands of twinkling lights. The moon sat perched in the sky only showing half of its face. Ezra took a deep breath letting the cool air fill his lungs and began to head toward town. It was too early to go home on such a nice night so he felt like taking a stroll.

The town was quiet on this summer's night. A few stores were still open and the cafes were full but there was something about the air that seemed quiet. Maybe the heat of the day had just taken the energy out of everyone. Ezra let his eyes wonder glancing at the cozy little homes with their lights shining through the windows. He observed a young couple walking side by side. The young woman was dressed beautifully in a soft yellow dress and white slippers. She clung to her date's arm so tightly that almost stumbled over each other as they walked. They didn't seem to mind though. The pair weren't walking on the cobble streets of Magnolia they were walking on air.

The requip mage passed by the lazy river that cut through the center of town and looked on as the boatman traveled downstream navigating with their long sticks. He passed by Lucas's house and had to chuckle to himself about the open window. He was expecting a certain lady friend to visit him tonight.

It took while for Ezra to notice that something was off. It took too long in fact and he silently cursed at himself for being too occupied to notice it sooner. Someone was following him. Damn, he should never be that distracted by the scenery. He casually looked around trying judging what the situation was. He was out of the center of town. The road was one dotted with residences. Nobody else was on the streets. That was a point in his favor if things got bad he wouldn't have to worry about hurting anybody. He took in a steadying breath and decided that the direct approach was best. He turned around to face the person.

"Who are you and what do you want?" he asked calmly at the cloaked figure.

The figure was silent.

Ezra didn't take any chances. He readied himself for whatever might come next. He already decided on a requip to try on the mysterious figure when they suddenly brought their hands up and brushed the hood off their head. He couldn't see who it was but the gesture and form looked feminine.

"You know who I am," the voice was feminine too and extremely familiar. He froze and stared at the figure. It couldn't be.

He grit his teeth and felt anger bottle up inside of him. It came rushing out in his voice, "Why the hell are you here?"

She didn't respond. She only moved closer to him making her features easier to make out. He step back instinctively. Why the fuck did she have to show up after all this time? Why did Jellal have to come back?