You hadn’t expected this sight when you opened the door in response to the urgent call from your mercenary friend.

You had been so anxious, waiting for his arrival impatiently. But this, of all the worst scenarios from your years of experience as a doctor...

You blinked your eyes, the doctor's patient blinked his in return, and both of you were rendered speechless, perhaps for different reasons.

Cloud Strife, the infamous mercenary from the Sector Seven slums who had traveled all over the Planet Gaia, cleared his throat. He felt very, very self-conscious and awkward under the wordless stare of his doctor friend. One couldn't help but wonder how his social awkwardness had never disappeared, despite years of practice and camaraderie from Avalanche missions.

“Spell?” The doctor repeated Cloud's previous self-diagnosis, his quiet voice betraying incredulity and disbelief. You had seen many things as a doctor: petrification, distortion of time, mutism, enchantment, and ribbit, ribbt. You bit the inside of your cheek not to laugh out loud at the fond recollection of your friends jumping and croaking in frog-form.

“Yes, spell,” the mercenary confirmed again with a suspicious frown. He noticed the tremors of your silent laughter over your shoulders. His doggy ears perked to sense the tension better.

Oh, Gods above... You bit harder, squeezing your eyes shut.

“But... what kind of spell was it? I remember there was a spell turning you into a frog... but a dog...?" You managed to say.

“Got a problem?” Cloud barked.

Problems... Well, he now had a pair of fluffy ears and a wagging tail that matched his hair colour. Save for those, Cloud Strife looked exactly the same! So, no problems! ...right?

“Y-you look very cute…?” That’s a problem, I suppose…

“I’m not cute!” Cloud howled, frowning as though he were very mad, oh-so-mad, oh-so-upset about that belittling praise! But… “Your tail is wagging, Cloud.”

“R-really?” Cloud woofed, twisting his torso to look behind. Oh, no! The start of an endless loop!