Disclaimer: I do not own FF7 or FF13.

They arrived in Paddra to find the ruins of what appeared to be a great city. The stone archways were laced with green, having nature moved in to where humans once lived. It was nestled in a hidden place lost within the mountain ranges so the grass was scarce. There were trees though, and plants that managed to brave the rocky terrain and flourish with the rich soil of the Pulsian fields below. "This is Paddra." Tifa mumbled to herself as she brushed away some hanging vines while exploring the old city.

"This is the City of Paddra." Lightning corrected her from where she stood up on what looked like the remains of an old terrace, "Caius and Yeul built it, reminiscent to their time as the Farseer while alluding to the buildings of Valhalla. The people of Paddra lived here worshiping the Goddess of Death, most having a greater knowledge of the world and how it came to be. This place was the only place with a link to Nova Chrysalia, and also the only place with the knowledge of Nova Chrysalia from the very beginning. When Cocoon started to expand and the people began moving to Pulse, Paddra fell into disarray. The knowledge of the Unseen Realm was exposed to the outside world, so we conducted a Purge of our own."

"A Purge?"

"The Purge that the second fragment was part of." Lightning mumbled more so to herself, "There's no limit to curiosity, and truthfully, it's human nature to ask questions and look for answers. People came looking for answers about God's Realm. Conflicts erupted and war was inevitable. That's when Caius had to take action. It's one thing imagining about immortality or just entertaining the idea of becoming God, but to know that it's possible is another. The existence of God isn't something that should be common knowledge, so Caius started a Purge and killed all those who possessed such ambition. Over the years, the truth was buried and nothing was left but myths and legends. Paddra fell, and the survivors left these ruins to live in a small village a ways away. The Village of Paddra though, was recently wiped out by Geostigma less than two decades ago."

"What's the second fragment?" Tifa asked as she slid through the fallen buildings and climbed her way towards where Lightning was.

"That's a story for later." The pink haired woman picked up a rock and hurled it towards where Cloud was and pointed him upwards deeper into the city. He nodded, and both began making their way there. "We're heading into the temple up ahead, built into the mountain side. We'll step into the Great Chaos there, and we should meet Caius and Yeul there."

"You mean they live here?" Tifa jogged to catch up to Lightning.

"No, but they guard this place because this is the closest you'll get to Nova Chrysalia in this realm. It's a closed path, but Yeul has the power to open it. For people from Gaia like you and Cloud, this is the only way you can get into the Unseen Realm. For my people, they can come here or die. Granted, the only way you'll get in is if Yeul thinks it's okay. If not, then you won't be leaving this place."

"What do you mean?"

"Remember? No one is supposed to have this knowledge. If you come here looking for a way to Nova Chrysalia, then you'll get a way in. You just won't be coming back to this realm. Caius will kill you." Lightning explained, "The only other way to get into the Unseen Realm is if you're with me and I take you there personally like I did with Aerith." They walked out onto a long stone pathway, cracked and broken by small shrubs, and it all led towards one majestic castle-like building. Tifa stared in awe, wondering how such a beautiful structure like this wasn't plastered over every history or exploration magazine cover page. "This is Etro's Temple, an exact replica of the one we'll see in the Wildlands; a region of Nova Chrysalia that we will arrive in."

"It's… It's beautiful." Tifa said breathlessly and it only got more incredibly fantastical the closer they got. Statues of maidens were carved with masterful detail, standing guard over the entrance that looked intimidating enough by itself. Everything was in stone and marble, the color of white porcelain.

"It's quite a sight." Cloud concurred, joining them at the entrance. "So Aerith's past here?"

"Yes, this temple can act as a gateway and we'll be in the Wildlands through here. Aerith is in Yusnaan with my sister, so we'll teleport there."

"Yusnaan?"

"Yusnaan is a region, just like the Wildlands. It's just like any other city or area on Pulse. The people there eat, sleep, they go to work, and live normal lives. It's not like I'm taking you to Cosmogenesis."

"Cosmogenesis?"

"That's the true Realm of Gods. You won't find anything there. Just black." Lightning answered dismissively as she walked right into the temple. "There's nothing here, just winding staircases that go up into the throne room. The people of Paddra traveled up these stairs as part of the final leg of their pilgrimage to pray to the Goddess."

"So we're heading up then?" Tifa peered up the dark stairway. There wasn't a single light. It was pitch black.

"No. We're heading into the chaos." Lightning pointed up to the impenetrable darkness, "You can say we're going up the stairs if it makes you feel better." Tossing one last look at Cloud and Tifa, and seeing their blank expression didn't leave a good impression. She wondered idly if she should let Yeul be the judge of their strengths and weaknesses. "Come on." Lightning mumbled as she began ascending the stairs. Her boots clicked crisply against the cold stone, and the other two pair of footsteps followed her for a good half of the way until the Great Chaos began to brew at her feet. The Goddess stopped, nodding slightly at the young teal haired girl that walked out of the darkness and together, both of them reached the peak of the temple in a span of a few two steps. Only when they stepped out onto the open platform did the wisps of misty darkness drift off their limbs. She caught Yeul's stare, but all Lightning did was shrug slightly, and looked back into the thick fog of Chaos that Tifa and Cloud had yet to brave, "They need to know what they're getting themselves into."

"Why do you peer into their hearts?" Yeul asked, following Lightning as she approached the floating crystal throne, "Is that not why you brought them here?"

"For the same reason why you're testing them." Lightning answered easily, "And for the record, I don't really care what they feel or think." All it took was a mere thought and the GC uniform she had taken from Academia and worn until now began to fade, replaced by the black leather bodice and gloves crested with armor resembling spinal cords spanning from her wrists to her shoulders. The outfit that Bhunivelze had gifted her clad her body; the garb of the Savior and most well-known appearance of the Goddess of Death. "Whatever they see in the Chaos is something they're going to have to deal with themselves. If they learn something new about themselves," Lightning waved her hand as if to dismiss something trivial, "great. Even better if they figure it out themselves. I'm fighting a war, and these people are going to be fighting with me. I don't need to deal with any drama so it's better if they get… reacquainted with themselves." Yeul neither disagreed nor agreed, and while Lightning had mastered her look of apathy to keep people at a distance, the Seeress simply looked perpetually gloomy all the time with or without Caius. She wasn't about to ask where Caius was because the pink haired woman wasn't prepared to deal with a double whammy of doom and gloom while she waited for Tifa and Cloud's forced soul-searching trip. The next time she looked to Yeul, the Seeress was already gone.

…

Tifa walked on, listening to their footsteps clack against the cold floors. No words were exchanged between Tifa and Cloud, only the eyes met in mutual determination: they were going to see this through. The sound was crisp, echoing hauntingly on and on. In a blink of an eye, the lush greenery and vibrant colors of the nature left her mind like a distant memory, and the darkness that possessed these hallways sat still in a way that made it feel alive. Yet Lightning glided into it with grace, each step wide and steady. The cold stone archways were finely detailed as if each were man-made. Thinking about what Lightning said though, she wouldn't be surprised if they were. Ancient human relics never cease to amaze her. Being in awe at the architecture, caused her attention to waver and the next time she looked to Lightning, the pink haired woman was already a fair distance away. "L-Light?" Tifa called out, wincing at how loud her voice sounded but the said woman didn't seem to hear her. "Wait!" She did a half jog, and in few steps, she realized that she was catching up. "Lightning-" Whipping around, Tifa froze in dread when Cloud was nowhere to be seen. "Lightning, we lost Cloud! We need to-" When she turned back, Lightning too was gone.

Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no. Tifa ran forward, looking up and down the long hallway. There was only one path, so how was it possible to lose both Cloud and Lightning? Tifa heaved a deep breath, her fists clenched and unclenched at her sides and she could only hear the loud beating of her own heart over the deafening silence. It was fragile and delicate and it felt that any noise, even a mere whisper would shatter this strange balance. In the corner of her eye, she caught something shift and she immediately twisted herself to face it with her fists raised. "Tifa," Lightning's voice called out to her, and through the darkness, Lightning walked back towards her with her hands held up in surrender, "it's me, and I don't want to deal with a broken cheek bone again."

"What about a broken jaw?" Tifa growled, dropping her hands down as she glared at the woman, "What happened? Where's Cloud?"

"I could ask you the same question. You just suddenly disappeared. He's up ahead." Lightning said, stepping to the side slightly to let Tifa pass, "You're a lot more prickly."

"I wonder whose fault that is." Tifa sighed, "Something was here, and I think it was the Chaos."

"There's Chaos around us all the time here." Lightning responded dryly, "Now come on, or you'll be left behind."

"Don't want that." Tifa muttered, stepping up to Lightning's level before they continued onwards together at the same pace. She continuously snuck furtive glances towards Lightning, and the moment those azure blue eyes caught her staring, Tifa lifted her eyes and rolled her head around as if she was trying to write off the fact that Lightning had just coincidentally looked at her just as Tifa was looking in the same general direction.

"What are you staring at?" Lightning bluntly asked whilst poking Tifa on the side of her head.

"Ow…" Rubbing the place the pink haired woman poked, Tifa pursed her lips and glared up the stairs, "I wasn't staring at you. I was just… looking around. Where's Cloud? I thought you said he was just up ahead."

"I told him to go on and that we'd catch up." Lightning said softly, and came to a sudden stop.

Tifa looked back at Lightning confusedly, "What's wrong?"

"Tifa… I…" Lightning's brow furrowed, "I'm sorry."

"What?" Tifa rolled her eyes, "You just poked my head. I think I'm going to survive."

Moving closer until she was just once step beneath Tifa, Lightning sucked a deep breath before she suddenly darted forward and brushed their lips together. Tifa jerked backwards, tripping over the steps behind her and fell back. Slapping her hand over her lips that were tingling like never before, Tifa pursed her lips as if that would subdue it. It was in vain as her heart thundered in her chest at even the briefest contact. Lightning kneeled down in front of her, with a stare that looked as if she was pleading for Tifa to understand, "I'm sorry. I lied. There is no Unseen Realm. I'm not a Goddess. It's all a lie. Tifa, you have to believe me."

"W-W-W-W-What? What are you… saying?"

"I didn't want to help SHINRA. Tifa, they have Aerith captured. They're using Aerith as leverage against me. I don't know where she is… but I'm trying to find her. The Turks have to believe me when I tell them I'm on their side. I've spent the last three years trying to persuade them so that I could find out where Aerith is. The Turks won't follow me out here, and I'm risking what little trust I have telling you this now."

"T-They have Aerith?"

"Yes. I've told Cloud already and he believed me. Tifa, it's me." Lightning breathed, her lips lifting in a small smile, "I spent three years wanting to come back to you, but I couldn't put Aerith in danger. SHINRA killed Fang and the others… I can't let that happen to Aerith."

"Light…?" The said woman nodded, and slowly rested her hand on Tifa's knee.

"I love you." At Lightning's confession, Tifa's breath hitched.

Returning to her feet, she held the earnest look in Lightning's eyes, "You're… really Light?"

"Yes."

Glancing up the long winding staircase, Tifa turned away from Lightning, "We should go find Cloud. I want to talk to him about this."

"You don't believe me?"

"It's not that-"

"Tifa," Lightning took the one step up to stand level with her, "I didn't want to leave you."

"Light-"

"Please." The soldier's hand found Tifa's arms, grasping them loosely, "I know I was wrong. I know you're angry with me because I had to work for SHINRA. It was all an act." Tifa nodded, caving into the look in Lightning's eyes. She'd never seen the soldier look so desperate, so… helpless. That was it though, Lightning must've felt helpless if she couldn't even turn to them at her darkest hour. "Tifa," Lightning murmured, gently caressing her hand against the fighter's cheek, "my feelings for you haven't changed." The pink haired woman drew closer, tenderly hooking the few stray strands of black hair behind her ear, "No more waiting. We can be together." With every step Lightning took, Tifa took one step back until her back hit the wall. The intensity in Lightning's stare made her blood pump. Her body felt like it was on fire the moment Lightning pushed up against her. "Don't you want this? Me?" She lent in closer, blue eyes unwavering and never betraying any sort of hidden hesitation. All she saw was the yearning in them, and she couldn't bear it anymore. Tifa clamped her eyes shut. She felt Lightning's lips contact the corner of her lips, "I love you." Lightning whispered hotly against her skin, "I missed you so much." The moment she felt Lightning's lips feather up her neck, and the sinfully teasing wetness of her tongue draw briefly against her jaw, Tifa tore herself away.

Clamping her hand over her cheek, Tifa swallowed thickly as a barrage of shivers crawled over her skin. It wasn't wet though, even though she was certain that she felt wetness. "What are you doing?" Tifa demanded, shirking back when Lightning approach her again, loosely guiding Tifa's arms to her side before she hugged her waist.

"I just wanted to keep you safe." Lightning pleaded softly before lowering her head to nuzzle her neck, "I didn't want you to fight Sephiroth. I'd rather have those Turks die than you."

"What-"

"It was all a lie. Who'd believe that I'm a Goddess? I didn't want to lie to you, but I had no choice. Tifa, please. I love you." Lightning whispered in between kisses and Tifa suppressed a moan when she felt Lightning's hand slide over her body and slip into her shirt. "Forget everything." The touch was like hot iron against ice, "Stay here with me." Biting her lip at Lightning's ministrations, Tifa wrapped her arms around Lightning's neck and pulled away enough just to hold Lightning's face up to hers. "Tifa…" Resting their foreheads together, Tifa allowed their breaths to mingle and desperately sought to calm her body and mind despite how daring Lightning's hand was beginning to wander her body. "Isn't this… what you wanted?"

Lightning's words resounded in Tifa's mind, and it earned nothing but an empty chuckle. "You… really do think I'm stupid don't you?" The same words Tifa had spoken to Lightning returned to her, and it was nothing but a final proof that she could never have what she wanted. Holding Lightning's face strongly, Tifa pulled back to stare into the endless azure blue eyes. They looked so real, Lightning felt so real, but she was no fool. "Just because you have Lightning's face…" Tifa shook her head bitterly and she was sure her expression mirrored exactly what she felt, "You're not Lightning. I know you're not her. If Aerith's truly in danger… she wouldn't do this. She wouldn't even think to make love to me even if we spent the last three years wanting each other. Lightning won't beg and plead because she's never regretted anything she's done because she knows and convinces herself that what she has done is right, especially when it's done to protect someone she cares about. And…" The fighter's grip tightened around Lightning's head and she forcefully bit out her next words, "she would never ask me to stay here and forget everything. She wouldn't ask me to do something so cruel because only I am selfish enough to want her to say that to me. I know her… and she never gives me what I want."

With a quick twist of her hands, she snapped Lightning's neck. The body didn't fall though, and instead burst into a storm of black mist. Throwing her arms up to cover herself, Tifa peeked through to see the darkness thrash back and forth before it retreated down the hallway like a vacuum. The opaque dark that she had seen at the beginning dispersed as cold white lights lined carefully along every stone archway lit up to light her path. Bracing herself against the wall, Tifa looked up and down the hallway afraid of whatever it was that taunted her to return. Cold sweat ran down her skin. Nothing but silence greeted her. Her legs shook, weak where she stood, and she slid down to the floor to hug her knees to her chest. "Calm down." Tifa whispered to herself, "It's okay. Calm down." Her heart didn't listen to her words, and it pounded wildly in the cavity of her chest until it was painful. It took a few minutes, but Tifa had somewhat collected herself before she returned to her feet.

There was no going back. She took one step, and then another. Each step that followed came a little easier than the one before until the fighter was running through the hallways and up the stairs. All that she wanted was to see Aerith again so she could leave this place. Jumping up the next set of stairs, Tifa broke out onto the open area and came to an abrupt shock that she was at the top even though she knew that she hardly made enough distance to reach the summit of the temple. The area was open, supported by thick stone pillars and overlooked the entire City of Paddra. In the middle though, was a throne built in crystal that sat suspended in midair and before it stood Lightning. Her clothes had changed though, and she now wore what she had worn that day when SHINRA fell. The black leather bodice fit snug against her body, while the white crimson-lined cape drifted behind her. "That was fast." Lightning stated, her crimson boots grinding against the stone floors as she turned her head slightly. "Cloud's not here yet."

"W-What was that!" Tifa erupted in anger, stomping towards the pink haired woman.

"I told you: the Chaos." Lightning drawled, and even though Tifa was staring at the back of her head, she could just imagine Lightning rolling her eyes, "What did you think it was? Real?"

"I-" The fighter bit her lip, "Look at me when I'm talking to you. What. Was. That?"

"One of the many potentials of the Chaos. It reads your mind; both your conscious and subconscious. It knows what you think, sees what it is that you want to see and what you don't want to see. It can show you what you want, say whatever it is that you want it to say, and give you whatever it is that you want. Knowing what's real and what isn't gets harder the more desires one person has. There are more ways into their mind, it's easier to break through their defenses, and there's all the more to tempt them with. It can act as a mirror, one that lets you see your secrets and thoughts… even those that you've yet to realize." Lightning explained.

"Couldn't you have at least given us a warning?!" Tifa vented.

"What's the point then? I may as well just hold your hand and baby you through it." The Goddess retorted dryly, "What did you see?"

"Y-You mean you don't know?" Tifa froze, slapping her hand over the junction beneath her jaw the Chaos' Lightning had licked her.

"I don't make a habit of looking into people's minds. To break the illusion, it's a test of how well you know yourself and the people important to you. I'm impressed you got out so quickly."

"I'm not telling you." Tifa fought a blush and hid it behind a mean scowl.

"Fine. Just make sure that whatever it was, it can't be used against you anymore. Cloud's taking a long time." She approached Tifa steadily, marking the fighter's instant apprehension and purposefully darkened her gaze, "He must be a greedy man."

"Cloud's not like that." Tifa snapped, "He… just has a hard time letting things go."

She stopped short of the fighter, smirking upon seeing Tifa's unwillingness to back down. There was a fire of resolution burning in her ruby brown eyes, and Lightning couldn't resist testing her again. She leaned in close; close enough to see Tifa flinch, "We'll see."

…

His heavy boots clunked against the stone floors, his breaths heavy. Another blur of darkness flew past him, and he brought his blade to swipe at it only for it to miss and clang against the walls. He felt the blow vibrate through his blade and into his arms. "Tifa!" Cloud yelled, looking around frantically at the wild darkness that hissed and swirled around him. "Tifa! Where are you!?"

"Cloud!" His heart leaped, twisting towards the voice to see Tifa stagger through the darkness looking just as frazzled as he was, "Cloud! You're here!" The black haired woman ran straight into his arms, embracing him tightly, "I was so scared I lost you!"

"It's alright." Even in Tifa's presence, he could feel himself start to calm. Sheathing his sword behind his back, he rested his hands on her waist and felt her tremble. "Tifa, it's alright. We'll get out of here and find Aerith."

"I don't believe her."

Cloud shifted, "Tifa?"

"T-That woman! She's not Lightning! She's the one that killed Fang and Sazh. Lightning wouldn't do something like that! She led us here. What if Aerith's not here?" The ruby eyes looked up to him pleadingly, "Lightning's gone! She's gone… she's dead. What do… I do?"

He swallowed thickly, "We'll… find Aerith."

"Why…?" Tifa buried her face into his neck, her breaths tickling his jaw, "Why can't we let them go? What if they're all gone?" Her fingers glided against his cheek, gently easing his face closer to hers, "Cloud… I…" His gasp was swallowed by Tifa's lips upon his. It was gentle and soft, exactly like how he remembered it. He leaned into it, wrapping his arms around her lithe waist to hold her even closer. "I love you." Her breathless words were warm, her fingers daintily brushing against his lower lip, but a frown fluttered across her brow, "What about Aerith?" He didn't know what to say or do, and he didn't have an answer for Tifa as well. "You love her." Tifa breathed, leaning in to nip his lips again, "You still love me too though."

"I… I do."

There was a small laugh, nothing happy, but as if Cloud had just confirmed something to Tifa that she had known all along. Her hands trailed down to rest on his chest before she eased their bodies apart, "We can find Aerith, and then… we'll see what happens. We have to be careful though." She left his arms, and started walking forward, "That woman isn't Lightning. She's the one that killed her. I- I can't trust her."

"I'll protect you."

"I always knew you would. You promised." The smile Tifa gave him was so unlike the half-hearted ones he would always see the fighter forcing. "Come on, let's go." Without waiting, Tifa ran forward deeper into the darkness.

"Tifa! Wait!" He quickly sprinted after her, but it felt as if she only ran faster and faster. Leaping up the stairs, he ran out into an open area only to see Lightning standing close enough to Tifa with an inch of space between their faces. "Get away from her!" Cloud hollered, grabbing his blade before making a mad dash towards them. What fueled his anger was when Lightning pulled Tifa closer to her before a painful blast of red and black blindsided him.

…

Tifa was shoved behind Lightning's back before she knew it as a burst of black and red flashed in the corner of her eyes. "What happened-" Her blood chilled upon seeing Cloud slam against one of the cold stone pillars hard enough to take chunks of rocks down with him. "Cloud!" With every desire to help him, she was stopped by Lightning's firm hand latched around her elbow, "What are you doing!?"

"I could've dealt with him myself." Lightning said, and Tifa belatedly realized that she wasn't talking to her, but to the two new arrivals that seemed to appear out of nowhere. The man from the Vile Peaks, and a young girl with teal colored hair stood at the end of the platform.

"You're welcome." He sneered, and glared at Tifa before settling his eyes on Cloud as the blond tried to return to his feet. "I assume they are here to retrieve the Cetra."

"Don't touch her." Cloud grunted, his face twisting with anger that Tifa had never seen before, "Give her back."

"Cloud-" Tifa started, but Lightning's arm wrapped around her shoulders to hold her still.

"You're right." Lightning said to her, "Seems like there are a lot of things he still hasn't let go of. Many things that he still wants."

"Let her go!"

"It was a mind game, Cloud." Lightning called out to him, her tone seemingly unfazed, "If you can't even beat that, Sephiroth will play you so hard. He'll wipe the floor with you because that's what sadistic lunatics do."

"I said let her go!"

"No."

Cloud began walking towards them, the fusion blade clutched tightly in his hands. Tifa could see Caius lift his blade again, but Lightning held a hand up to stop him. "You know what a failure does?" Lightning asked, her tone dripping with mockery, "What else can a failure do but fail?"

"I haven't-"

"You have. Epically. You think what you want to think, you see only what you want to see. It's nice playing hero again isn't it? But that's all it is; play."

"Tifa," Cloud held his hand up for her, "get away from her."

Lightning's arm dropped from her shoulders, and Tifa knew she was free to make the choice. "He can't even tell the difference between reality and dream. He can't move on, he can't let things go, and do you know why?" Lightning whispered into her ear, "It's because he's drowning in self-pity and guilt."

Her fists clenched at her side, and Tifa hastily moved away from Lightning with a glare tossed over her shoulder, "I'm not going to leave him."

"We can go find Aerith," Cloud said, gently grasping her arm when she was close enough, "then we'll figure things out. Right?"

"Cloud," Tifa took a deep breath, "I'm sorry." Tifa brought her hand up and slung her open palm against his cheek. The slap resounded, and his face went red rapidly. Her hand stung from the blow, but hopefully that was enough to knock some sense back into Cloud. "Snap out of it. Now we're going to find Aerith, but we're going to need Lightning's help. I don't know what you saw back there, but it was the Chaos messing with your mind. You have Lightning to thank for that."

"You're welcome." Lightning crossed her arms with an ill-timed roll of her eyes, "If you two are done, we should get going." Grabbing the stunned Cloud's hand, Tifa tugged him forward as another portal was opened for them. "You two go first." The fighter took one step, then stopped and turned to see the young teal haired girl watching her with an empty expression. She looked young, but her eyes deceived her age. Standing at the center of this girl's stare was unsettling so Tifa sought to focus her attention back onto Lightning. She was talking to the man, and he handed her what appeared to be a black feather before she set it alight with flames. It burned to a crisp instantly. "Let's go." Lightning sighed, her hand reaching to massage her temple as if to relieve her of a headache, "Thanks Yeul." Tifa met the brilliant green eyes of the young girl again, hoping to see even the slightest spark of life. It was dull though, remained empty and sad even as the portal closed behind them.

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed! Oh, and this isn't the last you'll hear of these "illusions."

Next time, on Lucem Dei...