Author's Note: Instead of respawn in this world everyone has incredibly fast healing. This fast healing takes immediate effect. 

The next story is a body-swapping story idea I had.

P.S: Here's the drawing of HermitSwap!Joe and HermitSwap!WelsKnight: https://www.deviantart.com/themightywolftiger/art/HermitSwap-AU-8-785944989

P.S.S: I had this idea about a were-chicken, and I'll just leave it at that.

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 Cleo's POV:

 " Wha... What does that mean?" Stress nervously asked. Evil Joe remained eerily silent until we reached the top of the staircase that now seemed to never end. Evil Joe stopped causing Stress and Zedaph to stop as well. 

 " It means that even if you force me out of Joe I can and will come back. " he laughed as everyone was now in silence. Iskall looked at him, " So you're not from Joe's mind then?" he asked as Evil Joe gave him a shrug, " The rat can think!" he gasped in amazement as Iskall gave him an annoyed and insulted look.

 Evil Joe forced our little group to continue walking as he spoke, " I am just using this meat suit of kindness as a cover for getting some things ready." he continued as he looked at Grian with anger.

 " Unfortunately your little TNT loving brit caught me, and I couldn't keep my cover. I suppose it worked out though. My plan is going marvelously and ya'll can't do anything about it." he continued to laugh as his expression grew more twisted towards Grian, " I just wish I could've tortured him a bit more. Maybe cut a hole in his gut?" his laugh got louder as the animals in the forest fled.

Grian squeaked and Mumbo took him off his back. Mumbo held the toddler protectively in his arms and turned away from Evil Joe. Ren, Doc, and Iskall got in front of Mumbo and Grian. 

 Ren's hackles stood up as he let out a snarl.

 Doc's quills were standing up, and his mouth was smoking.

 Iskall took out his sword and aimed it at the virus, " You lay one finger on Grian ever, and you'll be wishing we'd end you faster." he hissed through gritted teeth. Mumbo was shaking now, yet it could've been Grian.

 Evil Joe stopped laughing, but his sickening expression continued to remain on his face. He straightened himself up, " Aww... The little baby's boyfriend is protecting him, and he's got the savage animals as well!" he cocked his head to the side.

 " Was bad man saying?" Impulse whispered as I help him, " Nothing sweetheart... Just focus on me and everything will be okay." I told him as he nodded. Impulse kept his head hidden in my shoulder.

 I focused my attention back on the confrontation. Evil Joe looked at all of us, " Let's just keep going... I've gotten my fair scare of scaring the children, and let's face it. I'm getting sick of this body." he shook his head.

 Everyone decided that we should probably walk in silence for the rest of the journey to the shopping district. Well, everyone except for Mumbo and Iskall, who took to trying to calm a crying Grian down.

------(The Author holds a sign that reads " Another Time Skip" and they wink)------

  The shopping district was incredibly busy. Some of the other hermits were gathered in front of the cart. Biffa, X, and False.

 False was carrying a small jar in her arms. 

 I raised my eyebrow, " HEY!" I called out causing the three to look at us. The two men and one woman turned to look at us, and something blue was in the jar.

 A tiny Jevin.

 I led the group until we all stopped in front of the four. False gave us a small wave, " Did the virus do this too?" she asked as she looked towards Evil Joe, " That old trick?" he scoffed before frowning, " Yeah, I did. Slimy idiot didn't see it coming." he let out a chuckle. Jevin slammed his fist against the glass.

 " Okay, okay mates. Let's start with getting Mumbo and Zedaph back to normal." X sighed as he motioned to a set of tree stumps.

 Mumbo handed Grian over to Iskall. He and Zedaph then sat on the stumps.

 " Are you sure this isn't going to work?" Mumbo questioned as a white glow encased the two of them. The glow only lasted a few seconds.

  Zedaph let out a shaky cough as he blinked, " Di... Did it work?" his voice was hoarse, but he was talking now. He gave us all a smile, but he growled at Evil Joe, " This.... This.... ugh..." he held his throat. 

 X helped Zedaph away from the stumps, " Your throat is going to hurt for a while. Drink some tea, and it should heal up real fast. Zedaph nodded, " I'm going to stay here until Impulse it normal again." he mouthed as he walked away from the stumpt and sat down on the stone steps.

 Iskall took a step forward, " Mumbo? You okay? If you aren't then lie." he asked as Mumbo shook his head and blinked his eyes. He stood up, " Why would I lie? I don't want to say anything that could hurt anyone anymore." he spoke and his eyes widened. Mumbo grinned, " I... I can tell the truth again!" he cried out in utter joy.

 Iskall gently handed Grian back to Mumbo. He looked Grian warmly in the eyes, " Mumo baaaaack!" Grian cheered as he wrapped his arms around Mumbo's neck. 

 Everyone was briefly happy, " That was greatttt, but let's hurry up the show." Evil Joe groaned as everyone stared at him, " Quiet from the peanut gallery." Stress huffed as Evil Joe shrugged again.

 Biffa took out two potion bottles and handed one to me and one to Mumbo, " Put the little ones into their normal clothes and have them drink this. It'll turn them back within the hour." he explained as Mumbo and I nodded.

 I walked over to Zedaph and handed him both the potion and Impulse, " You know what to do." I smiled as Zedaph nodded, " Get.... the others... back..." he whispered as he put the potion into his bag, readied himself for flying, and took off into the sky towards Impulse's base.

 Mumbo looked at everyone, " I'm going to go get Grian back to normal. Iskall, I want to know how turning the others back went." he told Iskall as he put the potion into his pocket. Iskall nodded at him. Mumbo took off into the sky towards his and Grian's base.

 The rest of us that remained were, False, Jevin, Stress, Iskall, Evil Joe, normal Joe(?), Biffa, X, Ren, Doc, and myself.

 Jevin was the next to be fixed, and he and False quickly fixed without an explanation on what happened to him.

 Ren and Doc were next. 

 The beam of light surrounded them briefly, and afterwards Doc immediately stood up. Doc let out a yawn, " It feels good to be able to stand again." he laughed to himself. He walked over to Iskall, " Thank you for keeping that secret." he whispered as Iskall nodded.

 Ren let out a groan as he stumbled to stand up, " Oi.... head hurt...." he groaned as Doc caught him, " The side effects are incredibly rough. " X sighed as Ren looked over at him, " Wazzat a punnnn...?" he questioned as X shook his head, " Heavens no!" he crossed his arms.

 Doc scooped Ren up, " I'll go once Joe is back." he stated as he went to stand by Iskall. 

 Stress looked at me, " Help?" she asked as I nodded taking the back rope. The two of us led Evil Joe onto the stump. Biffa stood in front of Evil Joe, " You're a bit of a jerk aren't you?" he frowned as Evil Joe shrugged, " Such a mild term." he scoffed as the jacket started to disappear.

 " Wait... Wait what's happening?" Iskall gasped as he took out his sword. Stress, Biffa, X, and myself did the same with our weapons. 

 Evil Joe let out a laugh, " Silly swords? Pitiful...." I felt my body freeze up as I dropped my weapon. I looked at the others. Each weapon wielding hermit dropped their sword. Doc was thankfully still holding Ren up.

 " Cast him out X!" Biffa shouted as X slowly forced his way over to a lever against the stump. Evil Joe summoned a ball of blood red energy, " Now this is a weapon." he laughed as the ball changed into a glowing sword that glowed a black flame.

 Evil Joe looked at each of us, " I'll return in a few days for my next trick but for right now." 

 Evil Joe took the sword and stabbed himself through the stomach with it.

 He stabbed himself through the stomach with it.

 Evil Joe let out a scream that sounded more like our Joe as I started to be able to feel my body again. The red haze disappeared as Joe took the sword out of himself. He let out a cough as Biffa ran forward and caught Joe as he fell off the stump. 

 Everyone stood in stunned silence, " Joe.... Joe please..." Stress whispered as she ran to Biffa and Joe's side. Joe opened an eye. He glanced down at the serious wound he faced, " The fast... healin' should kick in..." he coughed as Biffa continued to hold him. 

 Joe looked around at each of us, " 'm sorry I couldn't .... 'm sorry I couldn't.....hold 'em back that well...." he frowned as everyone shook their heads.

 " You did amazingly; however, right now you need to take care of yourself Joe... Biffa is going to get you fixed up okay..?" Stress spoke through her tears as I put my arm around her. Joe held his hand out and tried to grab Stress's hand, " That's good..." he whispered as his hand dropped and he closed his eyes.

 Biffa looked at X, " The fast healing is already in a process, but we need to stabilize the wound before it gets infected." he and X looked at us.

 " Joe should be awake in about a week. Come by the Statue of Hermitity to see him." X said as he and Biffa took off into the sky. Iskall grabbed a hold of Stress's hand, " He'll be okay..." Iskall whispered as Stress nodded.

 Doc said a couple of words that I couldn't hear, and he and Ren took off into the sky towards the stock exchange building. 

 Iskall flew off towards Grian's base.

 I decided to escort the shaken up Stress back to her base where I stayed for the rest of the night.