When we met up with Fang further in town, she'd explained to Lightning the truth of Serah's branding and apologised. Lightning stood in front of her now and slapped her across the face. Seemingly unperturbed, Fang looked at her. "That it?"

"You'd better hope so," the pink-haired soldier told her. She turned to me. "Did you know?"

I nodded shyly, hoping to avoid a punch. "I found out about it before we attacked."

Surprisingly, she didn't hit me. "You avoid a punch this time. Alright?"

"I'll be good," I said with an air of meekness.

Fang stood up from where she was leaning against the wall. "We should get moving."

"Yeah," I agreed, standing behind her.

Lightning scoffed lightly and fell into step next to us.

Almost immediately, we were attacked by a mixed group of PSICOM and Guardian Corps troopers. Worse was that civilians were around too. They could get caught in the crossfire. If only we could…

"I have an idea!" I shouted to Fang and Lightning. "I'll lead the soldiers away! You guys keep moving!"

"But what about…" Lightning started.

"Don't worry!" I assured her. "I'll be there, alright?" Then I moved closer to the soldiers. "Hey! PSICOM losers! I'm a big, bad l'Cie! Come and get me!" I ran away, hoping the troops would follow me.

Several sets of feet scuffled around behind me, chasing me. I grinned and stopped at a less inhabited area to fight them.

It was short, but brutal. PSICOM had brought in jet-troopers, who were a royal pain, but I eventually stopped them.

A small crowd of residents had formed without my noticing, so I was more than a little shocked when a rock hit me in the side of the head. I turned to notice that they'd all picked up rocks or sticks and were shouting abuse at me.

"L'Cie scum!"

"Go back to Pulse and stay there!"

"Leave us alone!"

"Get lost, monster!"

I don't know what it was. Whether it was the fact that I'd been hunted by the government that once sought to protect people like me for days, or the ungratefulness of the people whose lives I had just saved. Either way…I snapped.

"What is wrong with you people?" I asked them. "You think I chose this? You think I chose to be marked? You think I chose to become the monster under the bed?! Well, I didn't! I was forced, I had no choice! A few days ago, I was living an ordinary life! A peaceful life! On Cocoon! And now look at me. The entire Sanctum wants me dead. Well…" My eyes burned and I felt an aura of power around me. "I'd like to see them try."

The crowd hesitated and started to step back.

I could feel a pain beginning to grow in my neck, on my brand. "My name is Remus Cole. I am a resident of the beachside town of Bodhum on Cocoon. I am a Pulse l'Cie!" The pain grew. "But above all…I AM HUMAN!" The pain exploded and I roared in pain, dropping to my knees.

Terrified, the crowd dispersed as something began to coalesce in front of me. It was massive, its colouration a mix of platinum, gold and various shades of blue. It was humanoid, but was both organic and mechanical. I could see a large shell on its back. It carried a long sword in its right hand, a regal-looking blade…and yet thirsty for blood. Mine.

I stared balefully up at the figure. "What are you things? Huh? You Eidolons? Are you a test? A trick? A trap? Or are you here to put us out of our misery?!"

I could hear its voice – powerful, frightening yet calm – in my mind. Face me, it said. Engage me in battle and prove thyself.

I grit my teeth and roared, drawing my swords.

The voice sounded slightly smug this time. Excellent. The Eidolon raised its free hand towards me. From it, dark shades began to form and lashed out at me; one hammered into my body and I gasped hoarsely. I could feel my life force beginning to drain. Slowly but surely, I was dying.

Something told me that the only way to survive would be to defeat this thing, this Eidolon. I ran in, swords raised, and attacked. The Eidolon blocked the strikes with its sword and launched a slow but powerful strike at the ground. I jumped over the sword and the shockwave it left behind and landed on one massive arm. I ran up it and launched myself at the metallic face. To my horror, my swords bounced off it with almost no effect whatsoever. The slow decrease in my life's energy had slowed. Maybe…maybe every time I hit it the fight would get easier.

I jumped down and the Eidolon grabbed the shell on its back and launched it at me like a discus. I leaped over it and moved in to launch quick strikes at the legs. With every hit, I could feel the energy loss decrease.

The Eidolon reared back in a silent roar and used its free hand to catch the shell and replace it on its back. The hand then lashed out with a torrent of water, which I dodged. I then launched a bolt of electricity at the thing, figuring that – if it used water – it must be weak to electrical damage.

I was right. The pressure within myself decreased phenomenally. The Eidolon sheathed its sword behind the shell and held out both hands, unleashing a massive torrent. Thinking quickly, I went on the defensive to block the attack; I felt the yellow nimbus cover me.

Despite the fact that I had blocked the attack, I wasn't feeling too good. I put a though of healing into my mind and managed to make myself feel better. So I could heal myself, too? Nice.

The Eidolon suddenly froze in the middle of its preparations to strike at me. You are worthy, the voice said in my mind, a mixture of confusion and satisfaction.

It began to change. The shell dissolved into the metallic back and the entire body condensed in some way, shape or form. The limbs changed into wing-like appendages, and the entire body began to take on the form of…a jet.

Something within me told me to hop on board. Smiling a little, I put my swords away and jumped up onto the jet. "Holy…"

I am Cagnazzo, the voice told me in a reverent tone. Thou art worthy of my services. Use them as thou must.

It was as if something clicked then, something always known, but only now determined. "Thank you, Cagnazzo."

Thanks art not needed. I but do my duty.

"Jeez, let me compliment you, will ya?"

There was a silence, and the voice sounded amused when it next spoke. You are welcome, Master.

The Eidolon began to shimmer and I fell to the ground, landing shakily on my feet. The jet transformed into a dark blue crystal shaped like a crescent. Like the moon. I chuckled.

I heard two sets of scuffling feet and saw Fang and Lightning appear. Lightning seemed oddly concerned, while Fang was very calm.

"The False King, eh?" the tall woman smiled. "Impressive that you took it down alone. Or maybe it's just dumb luck."

"Uh, thanks?" I chuckled. The crystal in my hand dissolved and I felt a light pressure on the back of my neck.

To my shock, Lightning stepped forward and hugged me. I blinked, my arms hanging by my side.

When she pulled back, she punched me in the shoulder, hard.

"Ow!" I complained.

"Never scare me like that again," she ordered gruffly, a microscopic blush on her cheeks.

"Uh, okay…"

Without another word, she walked forward, making her way towards where we'd been told Hope's house was.

Fang held back and leaned towards me. "I think she's getting sweet on you."

I looked at her, trying to keep my face impassive, despite the desire to grin. "You think so?"

The Pulsian nodded and gripped my shoulder. "Good luck getting her to show it, though." She began to follow Lightning.

I smiled as I watched them walk forward. "Maybe when this is all over," I murmured to myself before following.

When we finally caught sight of Hope's family home – way up on a cliff – we weren't exactly thrilled by what came next. Not far away from the house came an explosion of energy. Orange energy.

Cagnazzo's voice called out to me from the crystal embedded within my body. Methinks that may be thy friends, the ones known as Hope and Snow.

I hope you're wrong, I replied.

As do I.

Fang gasped a little at something and I strained my eyes to look. Sure enough, two figures – one tall, in a grey coat, the other small and in orange and yellow – fell from a balcony. "Snow!" I shouted.

"Hope!" Lightning chorused, her expression one of concern. There seemed to be something familial about that concern, motherly or sisterly. I didn't have time to ponder it now, though. I had to save them. I started forward before Fang grabbed my arm.

"We can't get to them! They'll be swamped by PSICOM in no time!"

"But…"

"We have to move!"

Lightning still looked worried, but she nodded. "Fang's right. We have to keep going."

I sighed and looked over to where they'd fallen. "Snow… If you die, I'm gonna kill you."