A tiny comet flew past the golden stars, glistening in space.

Its light radiated as it approached the nearest planet, almost deliberately.

The people watched it pass, disappearing into the distant horizon.

Crows cawed and deer scattered.

Silence.

In mere seconds, the forest became both derelict and irresistible. 

Hikers crept toward the ambient sounds, their boots crunching on dried leaves. 

The closer they got to the forest's center, the colder it got.

"Is it me?" The woman shivered, rubbing her hands together. "Or is the weather strange here?" 

Their breaths grew heavier as the mist thickened.

"All the more reason to check this out faster."

A distance away, the comet shattered, turning into dust.

And from it emerged a little girl.

She sluggishly glanced at her surroundings, the rest of her body as stiff as a statue.

A few seconds later, her eyes widened as her finger traced the ice over her body.

Only her head remained free from the coating, allowing her to stare blankly at the clouds. 

She let out her first breath, her consciousness growing.

Her silver hair was as terrifying as the infectious ice below.

Frost silently spread from beneath her, rapidly claiming the trees, bushes, and earth alike.

Her eyes darted from tree to tree.

Instantly, she wrapped her arms around herself and curled inward.

Where am I? Who am I? She thought, tears beginning to form. 

Why? 

That one word kept spiraling in her head.

Over and over again.

Although her body wasn't affected by the cold, her mind was a different story.

She could not endure any more questions.

Her faltering breaths paused. 

Her ears twitched.

As her miniature wings retreated into the comfort of her hair, her gaze gradually shifted to her side.

The hiker couple stood there, still as stone.

Luna's eyes darted.

"Hey, so now that we've seen it," The woman tugged at the man's jacket, avoiding the girl's intense glare. "Let's get out of here already."

"Wait." He hurriedly reached for his pocket, taking out his phone. "Let me get a video first." 

Crack! 

The ice growled, tearing and expanding at once.

Luna began to groan, dragging her head against the ground.

She tore her hands from the ice, hugging herself tightly. 

The sky darkened, and the trees began to whisper.

The man stopped recording and reached for his girlfriend's hand, grabbing it tightly.

With the utmost caution, the two began to step away, one at a time.

Sharp cracks echoed through the clearing.

Jagged masses of ice forced themselves out of Luna's skin, each tearing free like malformed births.

And she screamed.

The lumps kept taking shape, each about her size, each turning toward the couple.

They ran away with only one thought in mind: survive.

Their town came into view in the distance, but to their shock, their footsteps were quickly drowned out by a dozen others.

They were being chased from behind, through the trees, and at their sides.

The two began shouting for help, begging that it would come.

And to their fortune, they escaped the thick mist and came into the view of the townspeople.

By a miracle, the two had escaped their freezing grasp.

They turned around for one more glance as they caught their breath.

Hands shivering and sweat sliding down their terrified faces.

Dozens of glowing pupils withdrew from visibility, each pair staring into their souls before they vanished.

"At least we're alive." The man chuckled, even as his expression still shouted for help.

"Shut up." The woman fixed her hair, her face drenched in worry. 

_______________________________________________________________________________

By the following morning, the forest no longer resembled itself.

Everything near the crater had been consumed by frost.

Shades of azure and blue hues dominated the environment, leaving no room for other colors.

Above the snow lay an igloo, Luna's resting place.

For she had not awoken.

Yet.

Her dozen clones continued strolling around the forest, a few collecting resources and fruit, the rest patrolling. 

In height, hair, and clothing, each clone was slightly different from the rest.

Eventually, they all gathered outside the igloo and distributed goods. 

Wood, rags, berries, and even rare loot from wandering humans. 

The clone most identical to Luna, Neoma, grabbed half the items and stored them within the igloo.

But to her surprise, Luna's finger twitched.

Her tiny wings withdrew, revealing her eyes.

With a big smile, Neoma's eyes glistened with joy.

"Everyone," She shouted excitedly, peeking out of the igloo. "Our majesty has awoken!"