Hello everyone, welcome to my very first Fairy Tail fic! Now, before I do anything else, I feel that I need to give all of you some info so there's no bad surprises for any of us. This story will follow an OC, yes, but it will also include focus on the pairings that will be final in this fic through out the story. These pairings are as follows: Loke/Lucy, Natsu/Lisanna, Gray/Juvia, Erza/Jellal and Gajeel/Levy. These are the main pairings, along with my OC's future romantic partner, which for now I will leave as a surprise (so nobody gets mad, it's not anyone in Fairy Tail or part of a very popular pairing. The surprise is more for fun then anything else). I say this now because I don't want anybody to come in here expecting this to be a NaLu story only to be surprised and mad when it isn't. I'm sorry if this changes your mind about reading this story, but I hope you respect my decision.

Now, a quick note before the story starts: this story is dedicated to Amy47101, LegacyReturns and my little brother for all putting up with me talking about this story so much AND for helping me pick a title! I hope the three of you enjoy this after hearing so much about it!

Alright, that's all for now! Now everyone, please enjoy!

Prologue

It was an odd occurrence for the Fairy Tail guild to be silent and everyone in Magnolia knew that. But that did not change the fact that this rare occurrence did, indeed, occur and there were only five sole witnesses to this event.

One would not remember this day for she was too young when it happened. Another would not live long past this day, carrying the reason for such a meeting as this to the grave.

Even still, that night was one three wizards would never forget.

That night, the man not long for this world entered the guild at the latest hour possible, when all was dark and silent, with a bundle in his arms.

Waiting within was Makarov, Macao, and Wakaba, and they were unusually silent and somber.

It made sense, given the situation.

"So it's time?" Makarov asked as the man approached the three Fairy Tail members.

"Yes. I don't have much longer now." The man admitted, holding the bundle close to his body protectively. "I…I wish it wasn't this way, that I could be there for her, but-"

"Hey, this isn't your fault." Macao cut in; his brow furrowed.

"Yeah, so don't go beating yourself up over it." Wakaba added in agreement, unusually serious.

"She will not grow up alone." Makarov reassured. "She will be safe and loved for as long as she can."

"I just…hope that's enough, that she can find a way to end this horrible cycle." The man whispered, looking down with tears in her eyes. "Elizabeth knew what she was getting into when I proposed…and yet she still agreed…I don't want my daughter to suffer this same fate."

"That's all up to her then. Just believe in her and go in peace. You deserve a nice long rest." Makarov said, a sad, bittersweet smile on his face.

"Besides, your wife's waiting for you on the other side! Go keep her company!" Wakaba grinned.

"And watch over your daughter, just like Liz watched over you." Macao smiled softly.

"Thank you…thank you all so much…" The man whispered as tears fell from his eyes. "I can't ever repay you…thank you…"

"No thanks is needed, not from family." Makarov shook his head as he extended his arms.

Slowly, oh so slowly, the man pulled the bundle away from his chest and settled it in Makarov's arms. Carefully, Makarov adjusted the bundle and moved the blanket, revealing a sleeping baby girl, who snuggled into the guild master's arms peacefully.

Silently, the man removed the sunglasses from his eyes and pulled an identical pair from his pocket, laying the two on the baby's stomach, before he leaned down and gently kissed her on the forehead.

"Be as free as the wind, my Charlotte." He whispered, before he turned and made his way out of the guild.

Later, as the early morning sun began to rise, George Windley checked into Magnolia Hospital, where he was immediately put into hospice care. After all, the cancer he had fought for most of his life was now winning and all they could do for him was make sure he could pass in comfort instead of pain.

Within a week, he was buried alongside his wife, Elizabeth Windley, who had died just days before he had been admitted to hospice, in childbirth.

And beneath all of this, their young daughter, not even a month old yet, was adopted into the Fairy Tail guild and trusted with the dreams of her parents. Makarov knew she could handle it; he'd known from the moment he first held her in his arms.

He'd known, right then, that Charlotte Windley had a heart that was far stronger and far older than anyone would ever know. And she would use that very heart to lead a life her parents would be proud, a life that would most assuredly lead to her breaking the curse that had plagued her family line for generations.

It would be a long road, Makarov knew, but it would be one Charlotte would walk with her head held high.

She was, after all, a Fairy Tail wizard.

This is my story. It's a bit convoluted and strange and twisted and most certainly long. But it's also filled with people I love, both through the joy and the sadness that has been my life. Would you like to hear it? Then please, come closer...and listen well, okay?

And there we are! I know it's short, but it's the prologue. Next chapter is the Macao arc (as this story follows the English dub of the anime, so most of the dialogue comes from there) and from there we'll continue with each chapter being an episode. I can't say when I'll update next, as I have nine chapters after this one written up, so...let's say whenever I finish the next episode (the first of the Phantom Lord arc, to give you an idea of where I'm at), the next chapter will be posted.

That's all I've got for now. I hope you all enjoyed and decide to stick around! See you next time!