Somehow, they'd made it. Zack and Cloud had reached Midgar, and Cloud was... less out of it. Not that Zack felt much better given he'd literally just fought an entire army, but at least Cloud was walking on his own two feet. And now they were at a small hill just a few hundred metres from the fence!

"The gate down there leads to Sector Five. We can find somewhere to slip in and, well, I know a place we can lay low for a little while. Catch our breath," Zack said.

"Sounds good, I'm still feeling weird. Like I could swear I saw some kind of red dog thing over there..."

Zack frowned, looking at the guardpost at the gate, which seemed... empty.

They made their way down carefully investigating the small shack. There was just a strangely torn up trooper uniform, an intact one in a locker, a map, some potions, some gil, and two-way radios. As expected, the potions helped the pair feel a bit less like they'd been hit by trucks.

"Hey, maybe I can take this uniform, go into town and get supplies, or some info?" Cloud suggested.

Zack was hesitant, but Cloud had a good point. Plus, people might remember him in Sector Five...

"Sure. Use that map, meet me at the church here when you're done. Use the radios to keep in touch if needed."

The pair split up, and Zack soon reached the church. He approached, and heard... a yelp inside?

He opened the door quietly, but had his sword ready as a number of possibilities raced through his head.

Seeing a red lion-like creature half-trapped in a ripped pink dress, with hauntingly familiar green eyes, was not one of them.

The lion talking with a familiar voice was also not on his list.

"Z-Zack?!"

"...Aerith? What happened to you?"

"I dunno! I was fine one minute and now I'm a talking dog thingy! And stuck in this dress..."

A ripping sound later and that was not a problem. Aerith shook off the rags.

"That's better... Uh, well, not really cos now I'm..." Aerith blushed, yelped, and hid behind a pew.

"So, um... E-enough about me for now, I guess you've got a story?" She said, peeking up from her hiding place at the still-stunned Zack.

"Y-yeah, uh..."

The two-way crackled to life, interrupting him.

"Zack, there's something weird going on. I've got some supplies but it's chaos here. I'm heading towards you, I'll explain more in person..."

***

After Zack gave Aerith a quick run-down on Cloud and recent events, and Cloud arrived, the two in the church learned some more about why one of them was currently a lioness.

"They're saying it's happening all across the city, only affecting women so far, and to report to a medic or security officer if you're affected."

Aerith sighed, and then yelped.

"Wait, my mother! I need to check on her!" She bolted for the door, remarkably fast and agile for having only become four-legged about twenty minutes ago.

"Hey! Wait up, Aerith!" Zack also yelped and raced out.

Cloud sighed, and followed....