Cole's shock quickly turned into anger as he stared down Asriel.

"What the hell are you doing out here?"

Asriel spoke calmly. "I know you're not exactly pleased to see me...just...let me explain myself, alright? I've been looking for you for a while." Cole was ready to shoot Asriel and end it there, but he also realized that Asriel would be taking a serious risk by seeking him out. Still, he needed further reassurance this wasn't a trap.

"How do I know you're not just trying to find out where we stay? Or if you're planning on getting us arrested again?"

Asriel looked at him earnestly. "For one, I can't actually legally take you into custody, considering we're in a different country. Actually, I'd be the one to be arrested, since I'm illegally crossing the border.. For another, if I did want to arrest you and your sister, I would be showing up with a lot more than just myself. Third, I'm taking a massive risk to cross into another country just for two people."

Cole searched his gaze, trying to search for anything that would betray Asriel. Finally, he decided to give him the benefit of the doubt, though he didn't lower the rifle.

"You have thirty seconds to explain to me why I shouldn't dust you right here."

Asriel quickly explained. "I can tell you what really happened with Chara. I can give you the truth."

"And why would you want to do that?"

"You deserve the truth after everything you've been through."

"Like you ever cared before now." The thought flashed through Cole's mind, and he was still hesitant. However, his nagging urge of curiosity to hear what Asriel was talking about won out in the end.

"Not out here, follow me." Asriel nodded and slowly followed Cole as he picked up the bucket, slinging the rifle back over his shoulder. Asriel was surprised Cole was able to find his way through the woods despite having no trail whatsoever. Then he reasoned that Cole must have lived in the area for a long time, he would know it like the back of his hand by now.

Twenty minutes later and the cabin came into view. Cole had taken Asriel in a particular path so that it would avoid the axe still embedded in the tree stump. He knew that Julia was back from seeing her bike leaning next to his by the house. He walked up the front stairs to the cabin, opening the door and walking in. He called out.

"Julia? You're going to want to see who's here!" Asriel heard footsteps approaching and soon Julia emerged.

"Cole! You're back earlier than-" She stopped cold when she saw who accompanied him.

"Cole...I'm going to go on a limb here and assume there's a reason for our...visitor?"

Asriel waved awkwardly and Cole replied. "I was hoping to get a decent one myself. Nobody else around but him though, so he should be fine. Besides, we're outside the kingdom. He doesn't have legal power here."

Julia nodded, and Asriel spoke reassuringly. "I understand the lack of trust from both of you...but I assure you, you'll want to hear what I have to say." The three walked to the kitchen table, sitting around it. Cole set the rifle down, but still kept it close to his side, something Asriel took note of.

"Well, let's hear it." Asriel was about to speak, then suddenly Cole changed the question.

"Actually, I want to first know how you managed to find us. We're not exactly in a city anymore."

Asriel explained. "Back home, I managed to get my hands on some satellite imaging. I discovered that there was something man-made, this cabin to be more precise, in the forest. So, I tried to pull a more recent image, and then saw that there had been movement. I reasoned that since you were trying to stay out of the way in hiding, this would be the best place to do it. So, I came looking. I've spent almost a week trying to get here."

"And now that you've looked us up, how many people know we're here? Or specifically, how good is your search documentation?"

Asriel blinked once. "Just me. I haven't told anybody you're here, and I've made sure to cover up my tracks. Thing is I sometimes go out on trips, my mother and father know this, so they hopefully won't be looking for me."

Cole looked into his eyes. "So, it must be fairly important if you spent that long trying to track us down. Well, you found us. So what do you want?"

Asriel took a deep breath. "As I told Cole earlier, I want to tell you the truth."

Julia frowned. "What truth?"

Asriel looked over. "The real story. The real reason Chara left the family. See, when I said Chara tried to murder my parents...that wasn't exactly true. In fact, it was completely made up. In fact, it never happened that way."

Cole's eyes narrowed. "Figured as much. What else do you have to say?"

Asriel looked down at the table. "Chara was adopted into the family by my father when she was young. That part is true. She was a model sibling, and we cared deeply about each other. For many years we didn't have a care in the world. One day, Chara overheard my father talking about a potential rebel uprising in one of the annexed states. It was then that she began to think that Asgore's rule was a bit harsh to the outside world. So, she confronted him. Asgore told her that what he was doing was necessary to maintain peace, and I thought that was the end of it. So, I continued on with my life. What I didn't know was that Chara didn't think it was the end. She went behind both mine, and Dad's backs, digging deeper into the history of the war and the years since then. One night she woke me up, and looked like she was in a panic. She started telling me these crazy stories of a massacre, a village burned to the ground, and a few others. I didn't want to believe her, or I might have been too tired to, all I remember is that I never believed her. She warned me that my father wasn't as kind as I thought he was. Then, she disappeared. For two years we searched for her, and found nothing. Then, she suddenly came back as the head of the Torin Republic. Over time we also realized that her commanders used to be leaders of other rebel cells. I believe that she managed to rally them under one flag, a flag that never saw success."

Cole took a deep breath. "Because I let you go."

Asriel's eyes were dark. "That's not the end of it. After Black Thursday and Chara's capture, I expected my father to offer her a second chance. He cared deeply for her as well when she was in the family. But he didn't! He had her killed like a traitor! After I saw that, I remembered her words from that night, so I decided to do some digging myself. Thankfully being royalty, I can access more secure areas without being questioned on it. Chara wasn't lying, Cole. During the war the monster army burned a whole village to the ground, and slaughtered every man, woman, and child! The strike was ordered by Asgore himself who claimed he thought it was a secret military outpost. There's been seven massacres ever since. The worst being in a riot that took place right in Kester. The official report claims that the humans struck first. The hidden report that I found though, stated otherwise. In fact, the humans ran away when monsters threatened to use violence, but they shot anyway! They killed over sixty people that day who were fleeing for their lives. As much as I hate to admit it, Chara was right. Asgore's got a much darker form of ruling than I ever imagined. Frankly, I want to have no part of it."

Cole's head tilted. "Tell me something I don't know. Most of us in the Republic were well aware of the atrocities, many of them had to witness them after all. I thankfully did not. Look, I fail to see what the point here is."

Asriel looked up. "I want to help overthrow my father. While we are family, I can't stand by and just watch as innocent people continued to be slaughtered under his boot."

Cole shook his head. "You'll have to look elsewhere."

Asriel was stunned. "What?! Why?!"

Cole shouted back. "Because if you don't recall, the Torin Republic was completely destroyed! Most of its members have been killed, the rest are in prison! I'm the only one I know of that managed to survive Black Thursday, because I wasn't there! For two years, we've been living our lives here in solitude, just trying to move on. And right when we're starting to think things will have some semblance of going back to normal, you show up and try to pull this stunt?! And furthermore, you expect me to help you after what your kind did to us?!"

Asriel shot back. "What'll you do when Asgore invades Niaca?!"

Cole was silent, and Asriel knew he hit a nerve. "Let's face it Cole, we both know Asgore is planning to attack. I've heard him talking with his commanders myself! He's not going to back down. You're just under a mile from the border, it would take only hours for the military to find you!"

Cole spoke bitterly. "We have a plan for that."

Asriel scoffed. "And what is your plan? Try and fight? You would both be killed in minutes! Run away? That won't do you much good. The war would soon catch up with you no matter what. Face it Cole, you can't hide from this anymore."

Cole considered mentioning the Niacan military, but remained silent, and Julia was the one to respond. "Stay here Asriel. Cole, a word?"

Asriel nodded and leaned back in the chair. Cole stood up with Julia, and they walked into the hallway, where Cole asked.

"What are your thoughts on all of this?"

Julia sighed. "I'm...I'm siding with Asriel on this one."

Cole was even more shocked. "You're joking, right?"

Julia shook her head. "The way I see it, he's making a good point. Niaca is going to get invaded, and there are already rumours for mandatory evacuation, especially for people like us living so close to the border. I'm not sure if I have the strength really to be able to start all over again. We've worked so hard to rebuild here, why should we have to go and start elsewhere, especially if there's a chance we can make a difference here?"

Cole shook his head. "We just, can't. The Republic is gone. You know that as well as I do. How in the world are two of us going to make any kind of difference?"

Julia grinned. "Who says it has to be the two of you? Why don't you bring Asriel to Prime Minister Peterson, or I guess a local authority? I'm sure he'll be very interested to hear what Asriel has to say. He'll likely support you, especially with your background with the Republic."

Cole grunted. "Asriel can turn himself in for all I care."

Julia continued trying to reason with him. "But, the government might be more likely to listen if you were both together…"

Cole shook his head. "I don't know...I don't want to have to leave you again. The last time I went to war, you were dragged into the middle of things, even with you trying to stay out of it. It wasn't fair to you."

Julia stared earnestly at him. "I know that deep down, you wish you had chosen differently. Maybe, this is your second - and last - chance to make change happen! Besides, I know that Chara would have wanted you to take the opportunity."

Cole huffed, pressing his fingers against his temples before walking back to the kitchen, Julia in tow. Asriel looked up expectantly, and Cole sighed.

"It's still light enough out. I'm going to be bringing you down to the town to turn you in to Mayor Charlotte King. You can present your case to her."

Asriel nodded, but then asked. "What about you?"

Cole sighed. "I...I need time to think it over."

Asriel seemed understanding. "Of course, I can imagine it isn't an easy decision. If I may ask, when will we be departing?"

Cole glanced out the window. "Right now. Julia, is it fine if Asriel borrows your bike?"

Julia nodded, crossing her arms. "So long as he doesn't break it, yeah. Can't afford to make repairs."

Cole looked back to Asriel. "Alright, well let's go then." Julia leaned back against the wall, watching as the two left the cabin, the door clicking shut behind them.