A/N: this is where it starts being more angst than comedy NGL. Also, since this is at the top, I'm sorry for the wait, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on this chapter, as angsty as it may be. Same Betas as awalys!

"So now who do we do?" Italy asked.

"Well, as much as I'd love to know what's going on again," Britain said, "Germany said that America and Russia were the top priorities, and they're the only ones still as clueless as me. And Russia is the one here."

Germany nodded. "Ja. You don't have enough warheads to destroy the asteroid, just to break it into smaller pieces, so humanity would still be doomed, but I don't know how to get Russia back. I've tried telling him some Russian history, but I know that it probably felt like he was being told a story about somebody else. That's what my history felt like. I also called Lithuania and Ukraine, but they didn't help either. All he wanted to do was come back here and be with his friends, or murder."

Laughing nervously, France pushed down Russia's pipe slightly. "Yes, but that is not necessary. Besides the emotion has to be what he doesn't want."

"What do you mean?" Germany asked.

"While you were away, Japan realized that only negative emotions bring back memories," Italy explained. "Like disappointment, confusion, and fear," He pointed to each respective country as he listed their corresponding emotion."

"Hai," Japan said. "And so the feeling is genuine, I find it would be best to keep the country in question in the dark."

Germany nodded. "That does make sense." He pointed to France, Britain, and Russia. "You three, out in the hall. Make sure nothing happens to another while we make a plan."

The three nodded, none of them wanting to argue with Germany for varying reasons. With them gone, only the axis. "You made deals with Russia, didn't you Germany? You know what he likes and doesn't like, right?" Italy asked.

"I only did those because my boss made me. Besides, we went back on them not long after signing. I don't know much about Russia besides the obvious, und the fact that nobody should attack him in winter."

"I know a little about Russia," Japan said. "When America was first befriending me, he told me a little bit about all the countries he knew. Russia was, and I quote, 'so goddam abandoned and cold as hell. Nobody goes outside to talk to anybody because their nards would freeze right off.'"

Italy's curl fell as he frowned. "That's depressing. No wonder he keeps calling us friends; he's so isolated in the corner of Europe that he probably doesn't talk to anybody but us, with his memories or not."

Crossing his arms, Germany lowered his head. "I don't want to do this, but if it really has to be a negative emotion I think I know how to do it."

"Really? What do you think?" Italy asked.

"Well, I plan on taking him to the kitchen. It has a walk-in freezer, right?" Germany asked Italy. He nodded, so he continued. "Then, I would betray him like I did in World War II. Not only that, but I'd lock him in the freezer so that it's cold and lonely, like America said Russia was like."

Italy joined Germany in looking at the floor. "That does feel a bit extreme…"

"However unfortunate, we need those nuclear codes," Japan said. "I don't think America would ever agree to having less nuclear weapons than Russia."

"Yeah, okay… I'll go make sure the freezer's turned on…" Italy said and trudged off. Germany and Japan followed too.

Somehow, even though they didn't take long at all, Britain and France were already trying to strangle each other with Russia just happily watching. Germany sighed at the sight. "Japan, maybe you should stay here to make sure they don't kill each other. Russia, come with us."

They all did as told, meaning Russia started blindly following Germany as he followed Italy to the kitchen. "Where are we going, my friend?" he asked innocently.

"We're going to try food again," Germany lied. "After talking for a bit, we decided that it really wasn't negative emotions, so we're going to make meals again."

"Oh, okay. Would you like my help?" Russia asked. They were entering the kitchen as he asked.

"Ja, you can. Could you grab some pork from the freezer for us?"

Smiling, Russia nodded. "Anything, friend~" Germany and Italy exchanged guilty glances as he walked into the freezer.

Behind Russia, the door closed, and the sound of it locking rang through the small, freezing room. "That is a very funny prank," Russia said through the doors. Silence. "Okay, you can let me out now." Still silence. The only noise he could hear is the hum of the light and the burr of the vents.

Russia waited a few seconds. "Comrades?" he asked. Nothing came in reply. He was abandoned there, lied to, and betrayed by Germany. Cold, alone, and abandoned. Three things all too familiar to the large country.

"net ... pozhaluysta, tol'ko ne eto …" he said. 'Not again. I had friends. I don't have to do this again.' Russia's eyes shined as every winter he'd ever had to suffer through flashed past them.

Italy and Germany stood in front of the door, listening and waiting. A huge metal clang started them both, but that paled in comparison to how started they both were when the freezer's door fell off its hinges. Russia walked out, still smiling, but it was more horrifying than before. He stepped over the broken door like it was nothing. "So it was a trick to get the nuclear codes, huh?" He laughed. "Very clever. But try it again and I'll boil your teeth out of your skulls~"

"It'll never happen again," Italy immediately said, scared out of his mind.

"Good. Now let's do the same to America," Russia said. "I would rather watch everything die a fiery death than give him an even bigger nuclear advantage."

Not really being able to argue with that idea, since they knew America too, Italy and Germany followed him back.