A small doghouse decorated the path. The dog in question was hiding under the snow, guarding a long rope bridge.

"Asgore really likes dogs," the man said, kneeling before the snow puff. The white dog burst out the snow, gave a cute bark. Then it kept rising. A huge suit of metal armour, even taller than the man, rose out of the snow like a mountain shrugging off ice. The man stepped back, taking in the massive dog-themed spear and gauntlets. A tiny white muzzle and ears poked out of the suit's neck. Somehow, a small white tail was wagging out of the rear. Its body must be stretchy like the small dog knight earlier!

"Huh. You remind me of that galoot, High Max."

"Yap yap!" It still had that same cute bark.

"You seem to be more intelligent, though."

The man put both hands on his knees and patted them. The big dog knight flopped forward, parting the snow in tidal waves, slobbering all over the man's face.

"Yuck. Stop that."

He pet the big dog knight, which had dropped its dog-spear, and curled up its dog-hands and legs against its chest. Its tail wagged so fast it acted like a fan, blowing snow in all directions.

"You want to play, then? Let's play."

The man snapped a branch off a tree and threw it into the thicket. The big dog knight barked and bounded off into the darkness with a huge thumping lope.

"No. Stop. I'm in enough trouble already! Put those down!"

The big dog knight returned carrying the entire thicket. It was a stack of trees so high that they shook the earth when he dumped all of them at the man's feet with a rumbling CRASH.

The big dog knight then flopped onto the man's lap, panting hard, its tail wagging slower.

"Good, you're tuckered out," the man said, petting the dog until it closed its eyes. When its breathing became deep and regular, the man leaned back his head to view the stars. They were bright, and there were many dotting the 'sky'. He knew they weren't real, but his eyes could not detect their energy signature, just like he couldn't comprehend that small warmth and lightness still resting within him. That feeling had never left him ever since it was born in the Ruins.

"I suppose there are some things you can't analyse," he said, his hand stroking the thick white fur. He stayed like that, kneeling in the snow with a giant fluffy dog knight asleep on his lap, for a long time. Watching the stars.

When he woke up, the big dog knight was gone. The man brushed snow off his armour then headed towards the rope bridge.

888

The man with silver hair was halfway across the bridge when the tall skeleton with a red scarf spotted him. Behind him lay a cosy little town. Bingo! Someone there must know about treasure!

"THIS IS THE FINAL CHALLENGE! THE GAUNTLET OF DEADLY TERROR!"

The gauntlet of deadly terror consisted of six devilish traps: a spiked ball and chain, a harpoon, a flamethrower, another harpoon, a gunpowder cannon, and a white dog with a rope tied around its midsection. The dog was proud of its duty, swaying back and forth in the wind. All of these traps were aimed at the bridge where the man stood.

"You promise this is your last puzzle?"

"YES! IF YOU GET PAST THIS, THEN YOU WILL HAVE THE RARE HONOUR OF FACING ME IN COMBAT!"

"hey bro what's up?"

The short fat skeleton appeared behind the tall thin skeleton. The latter leapt five feet into the air, cross-eyed and screaming. "NYEEEEH! SANS! DON'T SNEAK UP ON ME LIKE THAT! YOU ALMOST MADE ME..."

There was a very audible CLICK.

"...SET THE TRAP OFF."

The spiked ball and chain plunged through the bridge, breaking it off the cliff. The man was already sailing through the air. Both harpoons fired. A crescent flash of pink light cut them in twain. With an echoing BOOM a cannonball whistled through the air, but exploded on impact with a plasma bolt. Bright orange flames licked across the dark sky. The man spun his plasma blade so quickly that it blew away the flames. The dog slipped out of its tactical support rope and dove at him. He caught it with his face, coming in for a smooth landing on the cliff's edge in front of the skeletons.

"I believe this is yours," the man said, handing the tall thin skeleton the dog. It yapped, struggled free, then loped away towards town. It was a good guard dog! This meant petting and treats!

Meanwhile, the tall skeleton's jaw was on the ground. He picked it back up, reattached it, then shouted, "I... I AM SO SORRY!"

The man powered down his pink plasma blade and buster. With his normal hand, he gave a thumbs-up, flashing perfect white teeth. "That was a good trap."

The short skeleton winked. "yeah bro, that trap was really great."

"BUT I COULD HAVE KILLED YOU!"

The man shook his head and waved a hand. "As a treasure hunter, I enjoy the challenge."

The tall skeleton squinted at him. "THEN... THIS WAS ANOTHER DECISIVE VICTORY FOR PAPYRUS! NYEH! HEH... HEH?"

He jogged to town, red scarf flapping.

The man looked at the short skeleton who lingered behind, hands in pockets. "Nothing funny to say?"

"that puzzle went to the dogs."

The man groaned. "I was being rhetorical."

"sorry buddy, i don't understand words i can't spell."

"Does this town have any treasure?"

"grillby's is a national treasure."

The man smacked his palm with a fist. "Wonderful. Let's go!"