Chapter 29: Path to Snowdin 1

The world came back in slow, disjointed pieces.

Snow. Cold. The sharp ache in his ribs from where he'd hit the ground.

Vance blinked, his vision swimming as Garfield's rough hands hauled him upright. The old Royal Guard's muzzle was pulled into a deep scowl, his single eye scanning Vance's face like he was searching for something.

"Kid," Garfield growled. "What the hell was that?"

Vance opened his mouth—then closed it.

Because he didn't know.

One second, he'd been standing there, staring at the Amalgamate trapped in Martlet's barrier. The next—

—nothing.

A gap. A missing moment.

Like someone had cut a frame from a film reel.

Martlet hovered close, her wings twitching with unease. "You just… collapsed," she said, her voice tight. "One second you were fine, the next—boom. Out cold."

Vance's fingers curled into the snow. His head throbbed.

Gaster.

The void.

The timelines.

Had it been real?

His golden soul pulsed weakly in his chest, flickering like a dying ember.

Garfield's claws tightened slightly on his shoulder. "You good?"

Vance swallowed. "Yeah. Just… tired."

It wasn't a lie.

But it wasn't the whole truth, either.

Martlet exchanged a glance with Garfield before sighing. "We should get moving. Snowdin's Honeydew Resort not far, but I don't like the idea of staying out here in the open."

Garfield grunted in agreement, finally releasing Vance. "Damn right. Let's go."

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The trek to Snowdin was quiet. Too quiet.

Vance kept his head down, his boots crunching through the snow as the town's lights flickered in the distance. His mind churned, replaying every second of that missing moment, searching for something—anything—that would explain what had happened.

But there was nothing.

Only the void.

Only him.

Gaster's voice lingered in his thoughts, a whisper on the edges of his mind."You are not yet ready to understand."

Vance gritted his teeth. He barely knew anything concrete, just scraps of words and half-seen figures in the dark. He didn't have time to waste on existential crises or universal riddles.

And he definitely didn't have time to make the others worry about it.

So when Nina appeared beside him, her translucent form flickering faintly in the cold air, he forced a smile.

"Vance!" she exclaimed, floating a little closer. "What happened?! One second you were all fighting, and then—then I felt something weird and suddenly you were on the ground and—"

"I'm fine," he cut in, keeping his voice light. "Just… ran out of energy for a second. No big deal."

Nina didn't look convinced. "That's not normal."

He shrugged. "Neither am I."

Her frown deepened, and for a moment, Vance thought she might push the issue. But then Chara materialized a few paces away, arms crossed, their crimson eyes scanning him with quiet intensity.

"You felt it too," they said simply.

Vance's breath caught for just a second.

Chara had noticed.

"…Dunno what you mean," he said, stuffing his hands in his pockets, playing the part of casual indifference.

Chara's gaze lingered before they scoffed and looked away. "Whatever."

Vance exhaled, tension easing.

For now, they'd drop it.

For now.

Nina still looked skeptical, but she sighed, shaking her head. "Fine. But if you collapse again, I'm definitely making you rest, got it?"

Vance chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Got it."

Chara and Nina exchanged knowing looks but didn't press him further.

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The group followed the path toward Snowdin Forest, passing an icy pond and winding between snow-laden trees. The cold breeze stung at Vance's skin, but the silence was heavier than the chill.

Despite the distant glow of the town's lanterns and the crunch of boots in the snow, an invisible weight clung to him, settling deep in his bones. His mind still reeled from what had happened earlier—the blank space in his memory, the unsettling void that had swallowed time itself.

He shoved his hands into his pockets, his breath misting in the frosty air. Chara and Nina, their ghostly forms visible only to him, floated nearby. Neither spoke, but he could feel their eyes on him. Watching. Waiting.

Even now, they knew something was off.

Martlet, walking ahead, suddenly slowed her steps. "Hold up."

Vance blinked, barely processing the shift in pace. "What is it?"

Instead of answering, she gave a small grin and crouched slightly, bending one knee before tapping her foot against the snow in a rhythmic motion.

Tap. Step. Tap. Step.

For a second, nothing happened.

Then, a rustling sound came from a pile of snow-covered rocks nearby. Vance's gaze flickered toward it just in time to see a tiny creature peeking out—a small, hermit crab-like monster with a shell shaped like a miniature igloo. It had large, beady eyes that darted toward them before quickly retracting into its icy home.

Martlet smirked. "Just a little guy. They're shy."

Vance tilted his head. "What is that?"

"A Frostermit," she replied, taking another deliberate step, her boots pressing lightly into the snow. "They don't come out much unless they see someone dancing."

At that, Garfield gave an unimpressed snort. "Great. Just what we need—a dance performance in the middle of the woods."

Martlet ignored him and continued, this time adding a small twirl to her steps. Her wings fluttered as she moved, sending a gentle swirl of snowflakes into the air.

The Frostermit's shell shifted again.

A tiny head peeked out.

Nina, who had been hovering near Vance's shoulder, let out a small giggle. "Ohhh, it's watching!"

Sure enough, the little creature seemed mesmerized, its beady eyes locked onto Martlet's swaying movements.

Encouraged, she continued, spinning lightly before elbowing Garfield in the ribs. "C'mon, old man. Your turn."

Garfield scowled. "Tch. As if."

Martlet grinned. "Come on, big guy. Just one step. I promise it won't shatter your 'tough guy' image."

Garfield let out a deep, dramatic sigh before stomping his foot forward, shifting his weight side to side in what could only be described as the most reluctant dance attempt ever.

It was enough.

The Frostermit let out an excited chirp, stepping fully out of its shell before doing a little, awkward shuffle of its own.

Martlet clapped once. "See? He's got the spirit!"

Vance watched, something inside him loosening at the sight. The absurdity of Garfield—grumpy, no-nonsense Garfield—awkwardly shuffling in the snow just to get a tiny monster to come out of hiding was… well.

It was hilarious.

His lips twitched.

Martlet, satisfied, turned toward him next. "Your turn, kid."

Vance hesitated, his instincts screaming at him to wave it off. But the others were watching now—Nina, expectant and amused; Chara, arms crossed with a smirk that clearly said "Well? You gonna chicken out?"

And honestly…

He was tired of feeling so heavy.

"…Fine," he muttered, stepping forward.

Instead of trying something elegant like Martlet, he half-heartedly shuffled from foot to foot before throwing in an exaggerated twirl just to be extra.

The Frostermit clacked its claws happily, bouncing in place as if trying to mimic his movements.

Then—

Vance heard snickering.

From behind him.

His body stiffened immediately, and when he turned, Nina was dying of laughter, barely able to float straight. Chara, meanwhile, had their face buried in one hand, shaking their head.

"Oh my gosh," Nina wheezed. "It's even worse than before!"

Vance frowned. "What?"

Chara sighed dramatically, lifting their head just enough to smirk. "We saw you dance a few days ago, remember?"

Vance's expression went blank.

Nina grinned, nodding furiously. "During the celebration in the Ruins! When the music started playing, and everyone was having fun, you—" she covered her mouth, trying to stifle another laugh, "—you actually tried dancing, and it was so bad."

Vance groaned, running a hand down his face. "You guys remember that?"

"Oh, absolutely," Chara said smugly.

"I wish I could forget," Nina teased, still giggling.

Vance sighed, dramatically dragging a hand down his face. "Look, in my defense, I didn't even want to dance that night. Someone pushed me into it!"

"And yet, you still tried," Chara pointed out, their smirk widening.

"And failed," Nina added.

Vance groaned. "Okay, okay, I get it—I suck at dancing!"

Nina hummed. "Nooo, you don't suck at it. You just… um…"

"…Move like you're having a controlled seizure," Chara supplied helpfully.

Vance shot them a glare. "Thanks."

Chara shrugged. "Just being honest."

The banter was so ridiculous that Vance couldn't help himself—he laughed.

Like, actually laughed.

Not the forced, tired kind.

Not the hollow chuckle he used when deflecting.

A real, unguarded laugh.

And just like that, the tension that had been weighing him down since earlier—since the void, since the blank space in his memory—felt lighter. It wasn't gone, but at least for now, for this moment, he didn't feel so trapped inside his own head.

Martlet, watching with a knowing smile, winked. "See? Told you dancing's good for you."

Vance rolled his eyes but grinned anyway. "Yeah, yeah."

Garfield, clearly done with this entire exchange, grumbled under his breath before trudging forward. "If you guys are done embarrassing yourselves, we do still have a destination, y'know."

Martlet smirked but followed after him. "Alright, alright. Back on track."

The group resumed their journey, the cold biting at their skin, the night stretching on.

But this time, the silence wasn't as heavy.

And for Vance—despite everything that still lingered in his mind—he felt lighter.

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As Vance, Martlet, and Garfield ventured further along the snowy path, their footsteps crunched against the ice-covered ground. The cold air nipped at their faces, but the lively atmosphere of Snowdin made it all the more tolerable. As they turned a corner past a set of scattered rocks, a strange sight greeted them—a large, glowing rock, seemingly oozing molten lava, stood in their path.

The heat radiating from the stone was a stark contrast to the frigid surroundings, steam rising as the snow around it melted into small puddles. Around the rock, several oddly shaped panels were embedded into the ground, forming what looked like a puzzle grid.

Martlet clapped her hands together in realization. "Oh! This is one of mine!" she exclaimed.

Vance tilted his head. "Yours?"

Martlet nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! This puzzle was set up by me as per the Royal Guard Guidebook, Section Four, Paragraph Two: All routes leading into Snowdin must have at least one impeding mechanism to deter potential threats." She placed her hands on her hips proudly. "And this is my custom Molten Rock Puzzle—simple, yet effective in stopping intruders!"

Garfield chuckled, adjusting his scarf. "You say that, but in reality, this is just a fun puzzle for monsters to play with. Puzzles are the thing around here, y'know. In fact, puzzles are one of the top ten favorite hobbies among monsters in the Ruins."

Vance perked up at that. "Yeah, I noticed. There were a ton of puzzles back in the Ruins." He hesitated before adding, "I actually like puzzles too."

"Then you'll love this one!" Martlet clapped her hands together before gesturing at the molten rock. "The goal is simple: You control the wheels using the left and right levers, and your job is to keep the rock ball from hitting the planks on either side. If it touches, it'll reset, and you'll have to try again."

Chara let out an amused hum. "It's basically a more dramatic version of a carnival game."

Nina chuckled. "Oh, this is going to be fun to watch."

Martlet gave Vance an expectant look. "Since you like puzzles, why don't you try it out?"

Vance hesitated for a moment but ultimately nodded. "Alright, I'll give it a shot."

He stepped forward and examined the setup. The wheels looked sturdy, and the levers were simple enough to operate. Taking a deep breath, he grasped both levers, one in each hand.

As soon as he pulled them, the molten rock in the center glowed brighter, and a small ball of lava rose to the surface, bouncing lightly in place. The game had begun.

The moment the ball started to move, Vance shifted the levers. The wheels turned, tilting the stone surface just enough to keep the ball rolling safely between them. It wasn't difficult, but the unpredictability of the ball's movement kept him on his toes. Each time it threatened to slip too close to the edges, he quickly adjusted, shifting the wheels just enough to send it bouncing back to safety.

His fingers moved swiftly, adjusting and recalibrating without hesitation. The puzzle was engaging, the kind that required full attention. He wasn't just passing through—he was actively solving something, and for the first time in a while, he felt a rush of satisfaction at each successful adjustment.

A few minutes passed before the puzzle emitted a soft chime, signaling success. The molten rock's glow dimmed, and the lava ball cooled, turning to solid stone.

Martlet blinked in surprise. "You… actually finished that really fast."

"Wow," Garfield whistled. "That was smooth."

"Not bad, not bad." Martlet tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Maybe I should make it harder. Add a second ball? Make the levers more sensitive? Increase the plank size—"

"Or you could leave it be before you turn it into an impossible nightmare," Garfield said, rolling his eyes.

Vance let out a small laugh at their bickering. It was the first time he had really laughed since leaving the Ruins, and for a moment, the weight in his chest felt lighter.

Nina smirked. "Hey, remember when you tried dancing at the celebration a few days ago? That was way less smooth."

Vance groaned. "Oh, come on."

Chara crossed their arms, a teasing glint in their eyes. "You looked like a puppet whose strings got tangled."

"I was trying, okay?" Vance huffed.

Nina giggled. "Sure, sure. But it's nice to see you in your element. You looked really focused on that puzzle."

Vance rubbed the back of his neck. "I dunno. I just like puzzles. They make sense."

Martlet gave him a thoughtful look before motioning for the group to continue. "Well, if we keep moving, we'll reach Honeydew Resort soon. There's a small path up ahead that cuts through—ah, actually…" She trailed off, glancing toward a dilapidated shack sitting just off the main road.

The small cabin looked abandoned, its wooden walls worn down by time and the elements. Snow piled against the roof, and the door creaked slightly in the wind.

"Oh yeah, that place," Garfield said, following her gaze. "Been here forever."

Martlet nodded. "I always pass by it during patrols. Never seen anyone go in or out. It might've been abandoned years ago."

She took a step closer, inspecting the structure. "Actually… I was thinking about using some of the materials for puzzle-building. I mean, if no one's using it…"

Garfield shot her a look. "You can't just take stuff. You should check with the owner first."

Martlet sighed dramatically. "Yeah, yeah, I know." She glanced back at the shack. "Still, it's weird. Someone must've built it for a reason, right? But it's just… sitting there."

Vance stared at the shack, a strange feeling settling in his gut. Something about it felt… off. But he couldn't put his finger on why.

"Maybe it's best to leave it alone," he muttered.

Martlet shrugged. "Eh, you're probably right. Let's keep moving

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The group moved steadily through the forest, the trees around them dense and draped in frost. Despite the chill that clung to the air, there was an undeniable warmth to their journey—perhaps it was the presence of each other, the comfort of shared company in a world where solitude could easily creep in.

Vance adjusted his scarf as he followed alongside Garfield and Martlet. They had been walking for a while now, their path still winding through the woods rather than leading directly into Snowdin Town. Instead, they were making their way toward Honeydew Resort—a place they had heard was closer and a decent spot to rest before continuing to the Capital. The journey so far had been smooth, but the rumbling in his stomach was a clear reminder that travel had its toll.

"Man, I could really go for something warm right now," Garfield grumbled, placing a hand on his stomach. "Preferably something that isn't frozen solid."

Martlet snickered. "What? Not a fan of chewing on icicles for sustenance?"

"I'd rather not, thanks."

Vance chuckled at their banter before glancing up ahead. That was when he noticed it—a small stand tucked between two large trees, illuminated by a single hanging lantern. A sign hung over the top, slightly crooked, displaying a name written in bold letters: MO'S MARKET.

"Huh," Vance murmured. "Looks like we found a shop."

Garfield perked up. "Food?"

Martlet cupped her hands around her eyes like binoculars. "Food stand, more like. But hey, food is food."

The three of them made their way over, their steps quickening at the thought of something warm to eat. As they got closer, the scent of roasted nuts and something slightly sweet filled the air, making Vance's stomach growl in response.

Behind the stand stood a figure with a familiar, business-like aura. A monster with yellow fur, wearing a dark blue vest and a confident smirk. He adjusted his hat before greeting them with a sharp, slick tone.

"Well, well, if it ain't some fine customers wanderin' through my part of the woods. Welcome to Mo's Market! Finest stop in the forest for all your hunger-related needs."

Garfield blinked. "Wait… Mo?"

Mo's grin widened. "Ah-ha! Knew you looked familiar. Garfield, right? And you—" He turned his gaze to Martlet. "Martlet! It's been a minute since I last saw you two! How's life treatin' ya?"

Martlet crossed her arms. "Could be better. Could be worse. But man, I didn't expect to run into you out here."

Mo chuckled. "You know me, always in business mode. Gotta make a livin' somehow." His gaze flickered toward Vance. "And who's the new kid?"

Vance hesitated before answering. "I'm Vance. Nice to meet you."

Mo tipped his hat. "Pleasure's all mine, kid. Anyone rollin' with these two is good in my book. Now, what can I get ya?"

Garfield eyed the menu nailed to the side of the stand. "What do you have?"

Mo smirked and gestured dramatically toward his supplies. "We got fresh roasted nuts, some dried fruit—keeps well in the cold—hot soup for those needin' some proper warmth, and of course, the main attraction: my famous hot chocolate."

Martlet's ears perked up. "Hot chocolate?"

"Oh yeah," Mo said, nodding confidently. "Real rich, real smooth. Just the thing to get that chill outta your bones."

Vance felt his stomach tighten at the mention of something warm. The idea of a hot drink sounded perfect. He reached into his pockets, checking what little money he had gathered during his time in the Underground.

"Got some money," he muttered. "Might not be a lot, though…"

Mo waved him off. "Tell ya what—since I know these two fine folks, I'll give ya a discount. Consider it a friendly deal."

Garfield raised an eyebrow. "You? Giving a discount?"

Mo smirked. "What can I say? Business is all about connections."

Martlet leaned on the counter. "Alright then, three hot chocolates and… let's see… some of that dried fruit."

"Comin' right up," Mo said, rolling up his sleeves.

As he moved to prepare their drinks, Vance took a moment to observe the setup. The stand was simple, but there was an undeniable charm to it. The fire heating the pot of hot chocolate crackled softly, and the scent of warm spices filled the air.

It reminded him of home.

Well, not his first home. Not the one he had lost. But the home he had found with Toriel.

He remembered standing in the kitchen, helping her stir a pot of something warm. He had always been curious about food—about how it worked, how it tasted, how it made people feel. One day, he had asked her about the food in the Underground, about why it seemed to help humans heal faster than normal food from the surface.

Toriel had smiled at his curiosity, her hands gently guiding his as he kneaded dough.

"It is the magic," she had told him. "Not in a way that alters or enchants—but in a way that nurtures. The plants here have grown alongside magic for generations. Monsters, too, pour their own essence into their cooking, and that, in turn, affects those who eat it. It is not something that grants special powers, but rather… a touch of warmth that helps one recover."

He had thought about that a lot.

Food in the Underground wasn't just about sustenance—it was about care. About the way monsters crafted meals to comfort, to heal. Even something as simple as a hot drink could carry warmth beyond just its temperature.

"You look lost in thought there, kid," Mo commented, snapping Vance from his memories.

Vance blinked. "Oh—uh, just thinking."

Mo handed him a steaming cup. "Well, here you go. One cup of the finest hot chocolate this side of the Underground."

Vance took it gratefully, the warmth of the cup seeping into his fingers. Martlet and Garfield each took their own, sighing in satisfaction as they held their drinks close.

Garfield took a sip and let out a low hum of approval. "Oh wow. That's good."

Martlet grinned. "I'll say. Rich as hell."

Mo leaned on the counter. "Of course it's good. I don't sell just anything, y'know."

Vance lifted his cup to his lips, taking a cautious sip. The moment the liquid touched his tongue, he understood what they meant. It was thick and velvety, the perfect balance of sweet and bitter, with just a hint of spice. It warmed him from the inside out, settling deep in his chest.

He exhaled slowly.

For the first time since they had left the Ruins, he felt a little more at ease.

Mo smirked as he watched their reactions. "See? Worth every coin."

Martlet rolled her eyes but smiled. "You're still as slick as ever."

"Gotta be," Mo said with a wink. "That's how you keep the business rollin'."

Vance took another sip, letting himself enjoy the quiet moment. The forest was still, the only sounds being the occasional rustle of wind and the distant hoot of an owl.

They weren't in Snowdin yet. They weren't even at Honeydew Resort. But for now, with warm drinks in hand and good company around them, this was enough.

He had no idea what the future held, but at least for tonight, he could rest easy.