In a small cabin in the countryside a young girl with snow white hair dully rested her eyes on three keys in her hand. One was silver. The other two were gold. The elegant metal shimmered brightly in the rays of the slowly rising sun.

The silver key she had purchased with what little jewel she saved up from her daily chores, but the gold keys were ones she'd had since she was a small child. She had long since forgotten exactly where they came from. All that she knew were that they were the last remnants of her real family.

"Yukino! Breakfast is almost ready! Could you gather some fruit, please?!"

"Ok!"

The girl left her room and ventured into the forest located not far from their home. She soon came upon an apple tree near the pond.

She reached into the pouch affixed to her hip and pulled out the silver key.

OPEN, GATE OF THE BEAR CUB: POLARIS

Golden light bathed the key in the young girl's hand. When she pointed it towards the tree a spatial rift opened in the ground. Out of the hole emerged a large pink mechanical bear with a yellow scarf around its neck.

"Ok, Polaris. We need some fruit for breakfast."

The bear nodded and walked to the tree. It slammed its palm against the trunk. Four apples fell from the tree.

"I think we should get a couple more. Mother likes to store them for later meals."

The bear growled and struck the tree again. Three more apples fell from the tree. The white-haired girl collected them with a smile.

"Thank you, Polaris."

The bear nodded and disappeared back from whence it came. The girl looked to the horizon, the sun had now fully risen over the horizon.

In this vast world of wizards and magic, Yukino Agria practices what is known as "Celestial Spirit Magic". A holder type magic, Celestial wizards have the ability to summon into the world ancient beings known as "Celestial Spirits". It is one of the oldest known magics in existence; dating back centuries. It is also one of the most powerful.

Yukino placed the fruit inside the basket on the kitchen table when she returned home. She then sat at the table, watching as her mother put the finishing touches on that morning's breakfast.

"Why didn't you take the basket with you, dear?" her mother asked. "It would have been much easier than hauling all those back yourself."

"I forgot."

"I see. Well as long as you didn't hurt yourself. Here. Eat up."

Placed before Yukino was a plate of ham, eggs, bread, and small bowl with sliced apples from the bushel she brought.

"Thank you. Where is Father?"

"Should be still plowing the fields this early in the morning. You can help him when you're done eating."

"Ok."

Yukino and her parents lived in old farming village a day's trip by train to the city of Hargeon. If anyone saw the family walking the street they would immediately noticed that Yukino's pale hair and skin tone didn't match at all with her parent's dark hair and earthy skin tone. The reason for this was a simple one, Yukino was adopted.

The couple that took her in desired children, but due to one circumstance or another were unable to conceive. Desperate, they decided to adopt from an orphanage in the local village that provided shelter to children displaced during the child hunts. It was there that they found Yukino.

Yukino was only six years old at the time of her adoption. The first day she met the people who would be her parents she was sitting alone in the corner of the orphanage away from the other children with nothing but the clothes on her back, and a pouch with three keys held tightly in her hands. The couple took pity on the girl and her empty eyes, and decided then and there that she was to be their daughter.

Yukino had no objections to this arrangement. How could she? She was too traumatized by what happened to her to think of much else. It took a while, but over time the light slowly returned to her eyes and she grew to love her new parents.

After finishing breakfast Yukino headed to the fields in the back of the cabin. In the distance she saw her father plowing the fields with the family's horse.

"Yukino!"

The old farmer lead the horse over to her.

"Good morning, Father."

"Get yourself a good breakfast?"

The young girl nodded.

"Good. How about ya take over for a lil bit while I go get me some? Yer mother's probably sick a waitin' on me."

Yukino nodded and took the handle of the plow from her father while he headed back home. From the looks of things he was about halfway finished plowing.

"He must have gotten up really early." Yukino pet the horse, giggling as it nuzzled its head into her neck. She fed the horse an apple. "Thank you for all your hard work, Dexter."

She pulled out her silver key and summoned Polaris once again. After Yukino explained the situation, the massive bear was happy to aid in her chores. Hitching the plow to his neck, Yukino held on tightly as Polaris pulled her through the field.

For as long as Yukino could remember the days were like this. She would do chores all morning until early evening. There was always so much to do: plowing, tending gardens, toiling soil, cleaning, etc. It was exhausting.

It wasn't that she hated farm work. She liked the fact that she was useful to the people that raised her for nearly a decade, but Yukino yearned for more. She had a goal beyond the quiet farmland.

When she was adopted, the nun who ran the orphanage told Yukino's parents that she had no family. This was partly true. While Yukino's real parents were killed during the hunts, her older sister - Sorano - managed to survive.

Sorano was older than Yukino by about three years, but you could never tell by their looks. Most people mistook them for twins despite Yukino's slightly softer features. Yukino's birth parents weren't the nicest people. They more or less similar to Yukino's adoptive family but from what the girl could remember they were never very attentive. Neglectful might have been a much better term.

When they did pay attention it was take their anger out on Yukino, calling her useless and blaming her for their financial troubles. Sorano would always stand up for her sibling, sometimes to her own detriment. Nevertheless Sorano never blamed Yukino for anything that happened.

"No matter what I'll always protect you."

Those were the words that she would always say. Even on their last day.

Yukino relieved that day every time she closed her eyes. The smell of burning grass and flesh, the screams of women and children, and the angered yells of men. She recalled them all, but the one sound she remembered vividly above all else was the laughter. The twisted, sickening laughter of men in masks.

One after another they threw women, children, and able-bodied men in the backs of horse-drawn cages. Packing them in like animals and taking them away to parts unknown. If it weren't for Sorano hiding her in the closet, Yukino would have been one of them.

After the incident Yukino spent days searching for Sorano. Surviving on what meager berries and plants she could find in the forest and drinking water from whatever lake or stream happened to be nearby, it would be almost two weeks before she happened upon the nun that brought her to the orphanage.

Yukino had no idea where those men took her sister, but wherever she was she was alive. That is what she believed at least. She couldn't fully explain it, but she had a feeling that her sister was still out there.

"Yukino! Dinner!" her mother called.

Yukino looked to the sky, during her musings the sun was starting to set.

"Ok!"

Yukino thanked Polaris for his hard work once again and sent him back to the Celestial Spirit world. On her way back home she looked at her keys. One silver. Two gold.

Silver keys were commonplace for Celestial Wizards. If you knew where to look they could be found just about anywhere. Shops, bazaars, and merchants were all likely to carry silver celestial spirit keys. The golden ones however were much more rare. They were the "Zodiac Keys".

Thirteen in total, the Zodiac Spirits were among the strongest beings in the known world, as well as the strongest Spirits in the Celestial World. Each spirit had its unknown unique personality and ability that made all of them formidable opponents and stalwart allies in the hands of the right wizard, and Yukino possessed three of them: Pisces, Libra, and Ophiuchus.

A few hours after finishing dinner Yukino checked to see if her parents were sleeping before going outside. The moon was high in the sky, the clouds slowly moving over the little dots of light the stars provided.

This was the same routine every night. She would do housework all day, but when night fell she would practice her magic.

She grabbed her pouch and took out one of the Zodiac Keys. It was different from the others. In addition to the gold that all Zodiac Keys had, there were what appeared to be a purple snake wrapped around the length of the key. Yukino tightly clenched the key, her hands shaking ever so slightly.

Are you sure this is what you want, girl?

A woman's voice echoed in Yukino's head. It belonged to the spirit of the key – Ophiuchus.

The rumored "13th Gate", Ophiuchus was a Celestial Spirit that was only heard of in legends. Yukino didn't know if it was because of the key simply being lost to time, or people being frightened of just how powerful it was.

You know what happened last time. My power is too much for you, but what do I care if you destroy your body? Humans always put their pride above common sense.

Ophiuchus was referencing the first time she was summoned by Yukino. It was not long after the hunt. She had found the Golden keys in a trunk under the floorboards in destroyed remains of her home. By accident she summoned Libra and Pisces and quickly established contracts with them, but when she summoned Ophiuchus she felt an intense pain throughout her body and blacked out.

When she came to her home, as well as the rest of the village and the surrounding trees, had been utterly decimated in a flash of black flames.

Yukino tightened her grip on the key. Her hands were shaking, but she couldn't be afraid. She had to be strong. She could handle the power now. She slowly straightened her arm into the air.

"O…Open…"

Black veins crept down her arm, causing her intense pain as. She strained to complete the chant.

"Gate…of the Snake...Charmer…"

The key started to glow. The veins had now reached Yukino's face. She felt her head splitting apart and her body going numb. Nonetheless she sought to finish what she started.

"Ophiuc-"

Suddenly a hand grabbed Yukino's wrist. Her concentration broken, the veins receded and the key stopped glowing. She slumped over in exhaustion, a pair of arms catching her before she hit the ground.

"You must not use that key, Yukino."

Holding the girl was a beautiful woman with long black hair and dark eyes. In the moonlight Yukino could see the white scales that hugged the woman's body glistening brilliantly. Next to her - the person that had grabbed her wrist - was a dark-skinned young man with long white hair.

These were the twin fish Pisces, the second of Yukino's three golden keys. Mother and son, the spirits normally took the forms enormous white and black fish respectively, but on rare occasions they would appear before her in their humanoid forms.

The mother took the key from Yukino's hand and placed it back into her pouch. "Ophiuchus is not a being that can be easily controlled by a single wizard. Especially one so young."

Yukino dropped her head between her shoulders with a frown. "I know…but I still want to try. I need to get stronger."

"One does not simply get strength by forcing themselves. It takes physical as well as emotional growth to truly become strong."

"If you push yourself before you're ready you'll only end up dead." The black fish held out his hand and pulled Yukino to her feet. He didn't talk much, but when he did he was usually very blunt.

"Your time will come, little one." The White fish patted Yukino's head, showing a smile befitting of her title as a mother. "Don't rush."

Yukino nodded and the spirits disappeared. She returned home.

Yukino was awakened the next morning by the smell of freshly made food. When she looked to her clock, she saw that it was well past noon. She hopped out of bed in a hurry.

"Oh No! Chores!"

She quickly put on her clothes and rushed downstairs.

Why didn't mother and father wake me up?! They must have started without me! I hope they aren't mad!

As soon as she entered the living area she was suddenly assaulted by a hail of confetti and the loud sound of poppers.

"Happy Birthday!"

Yukino nearly had a heart attack from the shock. Her parents were standing before her, smiling as wide as can be with poppers in their hands. Hanging above their heads was a small banner that read "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YUKINO".

"What's going on?" Yukino asked.

"Don't tell me ya forgot about yer birthday." Her father said. "We spent all mornin' preparin'."

"But the morning chores-"

"Have been taken care of." Her mother smiled. "It wouldn't be a good birthday if you had to work now would it? Come along. Time to blow out your candles."

Yukino was forced into the kitchen by her energetic parents. On the small wooden table was a modestly sized cake complete with fourteen candles. After a somewhat off-key rendition of the birthday song, Yukino warily blew out her candles. It wasn't like she never celebrated her birthday since being adopted, but this year seemed different. Her parent's hadn't gone out of their way this much since Yukino's first birthday with them.

"Good job, sweetie. I'll get some plates and utensils."

Yukino sat at the table with her father while her mother rummaged through the cabinets. She couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.

"Somethin' wrong?"

Yukino was snapped out of her thoughts by her father's somewhat innocent comment. She bowed her head in apology.

"I'm so sorry, Father. I slept in and left you and mother to do the chores on your own. Please forgive me."

The old man laughed. "Ain't nothin' to forgive, darlin'. You've been workin' hard. Doesn't hurt to sleep in every once in a while."

Yukino was confused by her father's jovial attitude. Working hard? What does he mean?

"Here you go." Yukino's mother placed three plates and three sets of utensils on the table. "Dig in." she shot her husband a glare. "Two is your limit, Mister. Remember this is Yukino's birthday."

"I know. I know. You don't gotta nag me."

Yukino giggled at her parent's banter and started to eat. The cake was delicious, but Yukino expected no less. Her adoptive mother was an excellent cook. When they finished eating Yukino's mother brought to the table a long white box wrapped with a gold bow.

"It ain't much, but I hope ya like it."

Spurned on by her father's words Yukino undid the ribbon and slowly opened the box. Inside was a brown leather pouch, as well as what appeared to be a blue rose.

"That there is called the 'Morning Star'." Her father explained. "Only about fifty or so grow a year. It's a really rare plant. Cost me a pretty penny. They say when you pick it it will never wilt. As for the pouch, we thought you could use a lil upgrade from that ratty one you been carryin around since you were a kid. Something nice and new to put your keys in."

"You didn't have to do this."

"Course I did. What kinda parent would I be if I couldn't give my girl a present for her birthday? Not a very good one." He chuckled.

"That's not all." Her mother added. "Open the pouch."

Curious, Yukino did what her mother asked and opened up her new key pouch. Inside was a folded piece of paper.

"What is this?"

"Open it and see."

With bright smiles, Yukino's parents watched as she opened the paper. The girl's eyes widened in disbelief. Inside her hands was a train ticket to the town of Magnolia.

"It took a little doin', but we managed to scrounge some money together and get you that ticket." Her father said. "Magnolia's a little far, but it's a good city with good people. What do you think?"

Yukino was still in shock. "I don't understand. Why would you do this?"

"Because you've been working so hard." Yukino's mother walked to her father's side. "We know that you go out at night and practice your magic."

Yukino's eyes widened.

"We may be gettin on in years be we ain't deaf yet." Her father laughed.

Yukino was still in shock. "But...you never said anything."

"We didn't want to disturb you. We didn't think it was right." Her mother replied.

"…I still don't understand."

"From the day we adopted you, you've done everything we've ever asked of you and more. You never whined, never cried, and you never complained. Even if we may not be related by blood, that doesn't change the fact that you are our little girl."

"You've done so much for yer ma and me." her father added. "It's past time we did somethin' for you. In Magnolia there's one of them magical guilds. I admit I've never been much for all of that hocus pocus, but I know the people in that there guild can help you get where you're goin."

"They can help you find your sister."

Yukino was speechless. All this time, her parents had been thinking of ways to help her find Sorano despite their little means. The realization made her tear up. She hugged both of her parents and began to cry.

"Mother. Father. Thank you so much." She squeezed their necks tight, tears streaming down her face as she sniffed.

"Whoa, girl ya gotta grip like a vice." Her father joked. "Guess all that practice has been payin' off."

"You're very welcome, Yukino." Her mother said.

A week later Yukino nervously stood on the station platform, the sun beginning to set as she anxiously awaited for the train to Hargeon to arrive.

"Don't be nervous, sweetie." Her mother said. "We'll stay with you until the train comes."

"Trains ain't that bad." Her father reassured. "Way faster to get around than a magic mobile, but nothin' beats a good ole fashioned horseback ride if ask me."

Yukino managed a weak smile at her father's joke, but this didn't help alleviate her fears much. It wasn't just riding the train she was worried about. For the first time since being adopted she would be alone. Her parents would not be with her to tell her everything was going to be ok. She had no idea what awaited her in Hargeon let alone Magnolia, and that was if she even made it that far.

She yelped when she heard the train whistle. The locomotive rolled to a stop in the small station, the sound of the air expelling from the brakes hurting Yukino's ears.

When the doors opened she saw a few people exit the train. Not as many as she expected coming from a big city, but still enough to make her want to turn around and go home.

No. I can't run away. She thought to herself. Mother and Father spent all they had to get me this ticket. I can't let them down. I have to be brave.

She faced her parents. "I-I'm getting on now."

Suddenly both of her parents hugged her tight, but what was more surprising was that they were crying. This shocked Yukino. They had been so composed until now.

"If we had it our way we'd never let you go." Her mother admitted. "You'd stay with us and grow up and never leave."

"But we know there's a big wide world out there for you to see for yerself." Her father added through his sobs. "There is so much out there for you to see an do, and we can't let ya miss out on that."

Yukino returned her parent's hug. "I am grateful for everything you've done for me. I couldn't have asked for better parents. I love you both."

"We love you too."

After one last squeeze the all let go and Yukino boarded the train.

"Let us know as soon as you arrive in Magnolia. We put the communication lacrima in your bag."

"I will."

"An don't be a stranger. Come an visit whenever you can. Ya always gotta home here."

"I know."

"One last thing. When you find that sister a yours, bring 'er back here. We'd love to meet her."

Yukino nodded. "I will. Goodbye, Mother. Father."

She waved to her parents one last time as the doors to the train closed. They watched as the train chugged out of the station.

"Will she be alright?"

Yukino's Father pulled her mother in close.

"Yukino was a strong girl long before we started raisin her. She'll be just fine."

Yukino sat still as she could in her seat as the train rolled along the tracks under the blanket of night. Slowly but surely her nervousness started to erode away, but she knew it would flare up again once the train stopped in Hargeon.

If she remembered correctly the train would stop for the night, before taking off for Magnolia the morning after. She was slightly uncomfotable about having to spend the night in an unfamiliar city, but she was given enough money by her parents to be able to stay at an inn in the good part of time...she hoped.

She opened her new pouch and counted her keys like always. Two silver. Three gold.

I'm going to do it. She declared to herself. I'm going to become a guild wizard!

In the small pocket on the front of the pouch, Yukino found the folded piece of paper her Father had given her that morning before they left for the station. Written on it was the name of the guild in Magnolia she was going to join.

She unfolded the paper slowly, reading to herself the name of her future guild.

"Fairy Tail."

Finally a new update! I've been thinking somewhat carefully about how I want to proceed with this story. I thought about just jumping right into it, but I decided on doing a couple of character shorts. They won't be as long as this one (I hope), but I just wanted to acquaint you guys with some of the main characters we'll be following in this AU as well as the changes to the universe as a result of the prologue. Hopefully you like them.

I'll probably do about 4 more of these before diving in to the main story head on.

As always leave a comment/review letting me know what you think. thanks for reading!