Hope the switching bodies aren't weird or anything. But this chapter may change your minds on it. (In a good way).

Chapter 4: The Beast Within

Aeris's POV

I couldn't believe it. Not only was I in Tifa's body but Vincent was in Perry's body. Did that mean Tifa was me, and Perry was Vincent? Too many questions. "I may know of a way to fix our dilemma." Vincent, or rather Perry said in a monotone voice. "Really, that would be great. My back is starting to hurt." I noted. "I believe the secret lies in the Shinra Mansion." He said to me. "We should get there quickly." I told him. We both left Kalm looking for a way there.

Perry's POV

"Chaos? Aren't you the beast that Vincent changes into?" I asked myself. "I am. I have no idea how you got here but why not have some fun." It chuckled. "Fun?" I asked with fright. "You see, Vince hasn't let me out to play in such a long time. But now that a newbie is here maybe I can get some fresh air." He said trying to sound innocent. "You'll kill people!" I shouted at the monster. "I promise. Maybe." He said. "I won't let you do such a thing! You could hurt my friends or even kill them." I shouted. My thoughts fell to Yuffie, I couldn't stand to see her die, not after all the trouble of coming to this world and risking love a second time with her. "Worried about your girlfriend?" Chaos mocked. Bastard! "Oh sorry, were you having a private thought? I must stop doing this." It chuckled again. "I can't let you go!" I screamed feeling Chaos begin to take control. "I won't let you do this. Even if I have to take you down and myself in the process." I said with tears in my eyes. This was a hard decision to make. I picked up a pistol from Vincent's holster and held it to my head and prepared to pull the trigger. I dropped the gun however. "Pathetic! Don't you think Vincent has tried that already? Sure I like death, but without a host I'm useless." He said as my body began to change and I don't remember anything after that.

Tifa's POV

It took some getting used to moving around as Aeris. Running in my shorter skirt was easier than this longer one. I got to Kalm and ran into the house. "Oh, Aeris, you're back late." Cloud told me as I walked into the living room.

"Oh, good morning Cloud. I'm sorry I'm late hun." Aeris' voice said. "Hun? You never call me that. Not that I don't mind." He muttered. "Oops! I must have been hanging around Tifa too long." I said. "Well Perry and Tifa said they had to go to Wutai and I'm staying behind." He informed me. "Where are they?" I asked. "Outside, should be leaving now." He said in a casual tone. "I've got to see them!" I shouted.

Outside were in fact Perry and Tifa. Or rather, Perry and Aeris. "Perry! Aeris!" I yelled. They turned around and Tifa looked very surprised. "Tifa, is that you?" my body spoke at me. "Aeris?" I wondered as I looked at her face. It was her, I could tell. Hugging one another I turned to Perry and decided to hug him. He just stood there.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked. "It's nothing." He muttered. "Why are you so different lately?" I asked again. "Tifa, you're talking to Vincent." Aeris informed me. Felt odd having my body talking to me. "Vincent? What happened to Perry?" I asked him. "I believe he is in my body. And if my thoughts are correct he is in danger. Chaos, the monster in my head, might take him over easily. I've trained myself to resist him but I'm afraid it won't be easy for him. We must find him and reverse this spell if we hope to get back to our lives." He told us through Perry.

Yuffie's POV

"I sure hoped this spell worked." I said to myself proudly walking out of the Shinra Mansion. But then something followed me out. "What are you?" I asked it. "Your worst nightmare, literally." It said. The beast had a black body with wings and its face was very demonic. "Chaos?" I wondered aloud. "That's me. Your boyfriend had a weak mind. Easy to take over." It told me. "Boyfriend? What do you mean? You don't possess Perry. Only Vincent." I told it. "Well that spell you must have cast was wrong. Cause he's in Vince's body. My guess is Vince is the same deal." It told me. "Well, whatever you plan to do I'm stopping you here!" I screamed at it. I know I was alone but I had to prevent it from getting anywhere.

"Fine by me girlie! I'll be more than happy to kill you." It said preparing to attack. Taking out Conformer I threw it and it dodged. On the way back it hit him though. "Sorry Perry!" I said catching my weapon. "That tickled." It joked.

Vincent's POV

Being Perry wasn't as hard as I thought. But if he were in fact at Chaos' mercy than we'd have to work quickly. I don't want anybody to suffer from what should be my pain. I only hope he's okay, and Chaos hasn't done any damage yet.

"You looked troubled Vincent." Aeris told me through Tifa's body. "Well, I'm worried about what could happen to him. I mean it is my sin to suffer, not his." I said in a rather depressed manner. "Awwww...you do have feelings Vincent." Tifa told me through Aeris' body. Keeping the track of those two was something very difficult. "I'm just glad this chocobo is responding to my commands." I said. We had ridden Perry's and Aeris' chocobo's. I was riding Gold with Tifa and Aeris was riding Bright. Bright seemed to know that it was Aeris riding even though her body was different. I guess spirit and heart play a piece in friendship.

Aeris' POV

We were very close to Nibelheim. Only about 5 minutes away. We could see the town in the distance. "It's there!" I yelled. "I see it." Tifa said.

We entered town and ran to the Shinra Mansion. Outside was Yuffie on the ground. She was still alive but badly cut and bruised. "Yuffie. I'm sorry. It is all my fault." Vincent said to himself. "Don't say that. She's still alive. So don't go worrying about it." I told him rubbing his arm for comfort. "P...p...Perry. Went...to mountains." Yuffie said before passing out completely. "I'll take her into our house." Tifa said. She tried to pick her up but couldn't. "She's heavy. I can't lift her." She told us. "Let me try." I said stepping up and lifting her in my arms. "I guess being you Tifa has its advantages. You're strong for a woman." I said giggling. "You just dissed yourself you know." She said to me with her hands on "my" hips. "I guess. Help me set her up." I told her.

Inside we set her into bed and put a warm, moist, cloth over her forehead. She seemed to be getting better. Vincent was still brooding in the corner of the room. "I'm going after him! Chaos has to be stopped." He screamed with more feeling than we believed he had in him. "I'm coming." I offered. "What about me?" Tifa asked. "Well I'm not strong enough to beat it. In your body I might have the upper hand." I explained. "Oh, fine. I guess I'll stay here and watch over Yuffie." She offered. "Go to the Mansion. There should be an old book in there that started this mess. Try and find the way to reverse it." Vincent suggested.

Cid's POV

Nanaki and I have gone into Nibel Mountains to find some provisions for both our towns. I figured if we needed the same stuff why not go together. We didn't talk much but it made the battles easier. Then a winged beast flew up to us. "The &^*% are you!" I yelled. "Your worst...wait, I used that already." It said. Hard to take such a thing seriously when it spoke like that. "Are you Chaos?" Nanaki questioned. "Yeah, that's me." It said looking as though it would strike.

Vincent's POV

"How do we stop Chaos?" Aeris asked. "If we can reach Perry in there he may be able to overcome him." I suggested. "Leave it to me." She said smiling. We say an explosion from what looked like Flare above us. "Must be him." I said climbing up. Aeris was still trailing. "Hurry up!" I shouted to her. "It's hard climbing in this body. Rocks keep poking me!" she complained. I made it to the top and went for my gun when I remembered I didn't have it. I had Perry's sword, Banisher. I drew it and I was strong enough to hold it but how would I handle it? I swung at Chaos and he was amazed to see me. "Vincent! You crazy bastard! How'd you get here?" It demanded from me. "Can't be rid of me Chaos." I told it back.

"Vincent? That's Perry you stupid $&*#er!" Cid swore at it. "Explain later Cid." I told him looking for Aeris. She finally got up to us. Her shirt and body however was cut from rocks and was dirty. "I hate climbing!" she complained. "Aeris, get over here and try and reach him." I told her. "Aeris? I see Tifa." Nanaki wondered.

Aeris' POV

I ran up to the monster and stood my ground in front of it. "Perry! It's your sister! Can you hear me?" I screamed to it. It kept moving at me. "Tifa or Aeris or whoever you are. Just move away!" Cid shouted to me. "Come on Perry! Fight him. You're stronger than that thing!" I said again. This time it stopped. And as it felt its head it fell to its knees and Vincent's body was there. "Perry!" I shouted overcome with joy as I ran to him to give him the biggest hug a sister could offer. "Sis. I'm glad you are here. But can I just fall asleep?" He said in an effete voice. "Sure. I'll carry you back." I lifted him and we all began to walk back to town.

Tifa's POV

Finding the book was easy. The spell was still on the same page. I hope Vincent knows how to reverse the effects. I want my old body back. I mean Aeris' isn't bad, but I miss my face and hair. They walked up to us. Vincent was there. Well his body was anyway. "Perry?" I asked him. "Tifa?" he asked back. I had to show my affection to him. This time though it felt weird knowing it was Vincent's body I was hugging. The claw felt different. "I believe I can help with this problem." Nanaki said. We've all called him that since Sephiroth's defeat. I mean, that is his name anyway. We set everyone up and it appeared that when Yuffie cast the spell the spell was on two pages. The next page was stuck to another one. She cast the first half and the half of another spell resulting in the exchange of bodies. "Now Yuffie, just say the words on this page and the effects are reversed." Nanaki told her in his benign manner. He was such a gentleperson.

She said the words and I felt that same odd feeling from yesterday. When I looked again I saw Aeris instead of me. I checked myself. Same long hair, same hands, same "body". Aeris herself was examining her own body and she smiled after she was done.

"I'm me again!" Perry shouted with joy. "I'm sorry you had to go through that. I didn't want you to share in my sin." Vincent said apologetically. "It's okay Vincent. It wasn't a completely bad experience." He told him. "I'm going back to the mansion." Vincent informed all of us. "Vincent, don't give up on it." Perry said out of the blue. "It?" Vincent questioned. "You know what I mean. It's about her." He said smirking. "I shall take your advice." He acknowledged.

Aeris' POV

That was quite some time. I've understood a little what Tifa kinda goes through, but Perry really knows more about Vincent. The train to the Headquarters wasn't there yet. Perry had woken up.

"I don't want to ask her for help." He said adamantly. "C'mon Perry! You know you can't stand seeing Tifa!" Yuffie joked. "Yuffie, I want to see her, but I don't think she wants to see me." He said.

"But why?" I said as the train came to a halt.

That was quite a marathon. Well I hope you learned a bit from this. And what could have happened between Tifa and Perry anyway? Find out in the next chapter.