Alanna Bjorgman

I knocked on Crystal's door excitedly. "Hey, Mom told us to meet her in her bedroom."

"Okay, I'm coming," I heard my cousin sigh from behind the door. I knew she was still worried about her parents' disappearance the moment she set foot into Arendelle, but there was something else burdening her. I just couldn't figure out what was happening.

I secretly hoped Mom's talk with us would reveal the origins of the white streak in my hair. Crystal had always avoided the topic, and I could tell she found it uncomfortable to discuss. I wondered why—it wasn't like the streak was affecting my health or causing any significant harm.

Sometimes Mom tells me she wishes Aunt Elsa would be a little more like Crystal because she was always in her room whenever Mom wanted to play. Even though Crystal's around me more frequently than Aunt Elsa was around Mom, I don't see a gigantic difference in their behavior—save for when she's extremely happy, extremely worried, or around children, Crystal almost never opens up. Sometimes she plays pranks and starts snowball fights with her snow gun (I have no idea how it still works when it's not wintertime), but that's about as much as you'll get in talking to her. So what's the difference between hiding behind a real, solid door and staying silent when you're out in the open?

I knocked again on Crystal's door upon escaping my thoughts. "Hello? Crystal? My mom's waiting!"

Crystal flung open the door abruptly, wringing her hands. "Sorry about the hold-up. Let's move." She smiled at me—but it looked fake and forced.

What in the kingdom was wrong? I needed to find out. Whatever was affecting her must have taken a toll on her energy and spirit, and I knew it was up to me to solve the problem.

As we walked to Mom's bedroom, I asked Crystal one more time. "You can't hide forever, Crystal, and we've established that you can talk to me anytime—we're family; you can trust me. I know something is up when you're acting like this, and you're not doing any good to yourself by keeping it in. What's wrong?"

Crystal shook her head. "I'm fine, seriously. It's better for me to be here so we can work together to find my parents. I'm just a little worried; that's all."

The funny feeling in my gut showed no signs of settling. There was definitely something else bothering her, but she wouldn't tell me. I knew I'd get Crystal to talk—somehow.

We finally arrived at Mom's white bedroom door. It was decorated with ornate purple and gold flowers, and I smiled as I noticed a snowman or two hidden in the pattern. I had always loved the personalization of Mom's bedroom door—she was never afraid to show who she was to the world.

She never hid.

I knocked in a rhythmic style on the door. Mom said she had knocked on Aunt Elsa's door like that when she was young—it was a nice tradition to follow.

Soon enough, Mom opened the door. She was dressed in a black coat with a brown sash tied around her waist. She also wore a purple cape and had let her hair down. Her blue eyes sparkled with excitement; I sometimes wished I had inherited those blue eyes so I could shine like her, but I was stuck with Dad's dull, hazel eye color.

"Come in, girls! Take a seat anywhere you like." Mom ushered us inside the bedroom. Tons and tons and tons of snowman dolls and reindeer figurines lined the cupboard on the right, and I smiled. Those toys never ceased to remind me that we could be children at any age, anytime.

Crystal and I took a seat on the edge of the bed, and Mom sat across from us on a plush velvet armchair. She looked quite serious—probably since she was going to announce something important that was most probably related to us. Mom took a deep breath and began talking.

"Okay, listen carefully, girls, because there will be a lot of information to take in." Mom eyed us both. Her eyes shone bright, twinkling in the dim chandelier glow. She smiled lovingly at us both. "Oh, this is a lovely day."

"Crystal—you know that your father is part of a team of Guardians, right?"

Crystal nodded and looked wistfully up to the ceiling. "Yeah—with Uncle North, Uncle Sandy, Uncle Kang—um, Aster and Aunt Tooth. Together with Dad, they're the Guardians of Wonder, Dreams, Hope, Memories, and Fun. And we all Believe in them, as we always will."

Mom smiled and nodded. "Elsa and I have never stopped Believing. We miss the Guardians—they've always been so dear and kind. Girls, since you know about the Guardians, I'm assuming you know about Manny?"

Crystal's eyes widened, as did mine. "Manny in the Moon?" we whispered.

Mom nodded again. "Yes, he...he talked to me a week or so ago."

Crystal's jaw dropped. "But Aunt Anna, I thought he only talked to Spirits and Guardians."

"Well, I am the other half of the Fifth Spirit," Mom raised an eyebrow.

We nodded dutifully.

Mom looked at us for a few more seconds in amusement, and I couldn't take it anymore. "What did he tell you?"

Mom laughed. "Girls, you won't believe what he said! Manny told me that you both...are the Sixth Spirit, the Moon Spirit! Way to take on after the original Fifth Spirit sisters of Love."

I gasped. Then pinched myself to check if this was a dream—it wasn't. It wasn't!

Crystal Winter Frost, Protector of Ahtohallan, and Princess Alanna Bjorgman of Arendelle were officially the Moon Spirit.

Oh, I'd never doubted that Crystal was some type of spirit—both her parents were affiliated with Manny in some way, so she was guaranteed to be one.

But me?

The Moon Spirit?

I never thought it was possible until now.

While both of our jaws were still hanging wide open, Mom continued. "What's important to remember is that both of you are Moon Spirits and that you will have to work together. Don't let anything separate you."

"I thought there were only five spirits," After a long pause, Crystal had finally gotten her mouth to work again.

"There are nine," said Mom simply. "The Rock Giants symbolize Earth. Fire is represented by Bruni, our adorable lizard. Gale is the physical embodiment of Wind. The Nokk, Aunt Elsa's horse, is Water. In turn, Elsa and I are the fifth spirit–the Bridge between humanity and magic.

"It's a new era, and we've discovered that there are four more spirits. The sixth is the Moon spirit, which is you both." Mom gestured to us. "We have yet to find out about who or what represents the Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Spirits, but Manny has confirmed that they exist and are somewhere out there. The last three spirits should be Sun, Sky and Life."

Mom was right—this was a lot to take in. And it was overwhelming; Crystal and I spent a few minutes gawking at Mom and processing the information in our heads.

"So, what do you say?" Mom laughed at our faces, which were paralyzed with revelation.

"This is a lot to take in, but both of us are honored to take up such an important responsibility as a Spirit." I found my voice a few moments later.

"We're a Spirit," Crystal breathed. "I still can't believe it. The legends are real. Mom would—" she choked.

I watched as Crystal looked at the floor forlornly, her voice barely a whisper. "Mom would be proud,"

My heart broke upon hearing Crystal's fragile voice. "I know you won't let your parents down, Crystal. You're gonna do great!" I encouraged her. After all, I had to to provide an unlimited amount of support and comfort for Crystal—and that love could only grow infinitely to help her when her parents were missing.

"Me?" Crystal murmured. "I don't...I don't think so," she stammered. "Thanks for your concern, but I have to go."

Crystal turned to leave, and got up from her seat.

"Wait!" I cried out. "What's going on? Can you tell me?"

She paused and turned around.

"Enough," Crystal said harshly. She gasped, no doubt mentally scolding herself for lashing out. I tried to shoot her a sympathetic look, but then she turned away from me again and walked off briskly.

"Alright, Alanna, settle down." Mom said. "We don't want a repeat—"

"Please tell me what's wrong!" I cut Mom off, running after Crystal.

"I said enough, Alanna. I'll deal with my problems on my own." Crystal repeated, still unwilling to break down the walls around her heart. She picked up the pace into a run.

I finally reached Crystal, but only close enough to pull off her right glove. "Crystal Winter Frost! What's happening with you?"

"I said, I don't want to talk about it!" Crystal shouted, and a giant blast of ice shot out from her hand. Luckily, I ducked and ran backward, causing the ice to stop just centimeters away from my face.

A few moments of silence befell the corridor, and any unfortunate attendants caught in the crossfire scurried away.

"Oh no," I heard Crystal whisper. "Oh, no no no no no! This can't be happening!" Her voice sounded panicked, and I heard her footsteps receding.

"...monster." Crystal's faint voice whispered from across the corridor

I sighed helplessly; the barricade of ice obstructed me from chasing after her.

"Ice powers?" I murmured and touched the white streak in my hair softly. "I thought she could only do it with her wand and gun. I slowly backed away from the ice and turned around to face a shocked Queen Anna.

"Hi," I waved apprehensively. "I didn't do it—"

"I know, I know. The past—it's starting to repeat itself." Mom replied.