The first impression I got of Twilight Town after I entered the world was that it was surprisingly empty.

The second impression of Twilight Town I got was that Twilight Town, the city, didn't actually exist yet.

Nor, for that matter, did any signs of a modern civilisation exist at all.

When I first arrived in Twilight Town, I had appeared halfway up a mountain. Surprisingly, it hadn't been raining when arrived, which was a somewhat nice departure to how things had been in both the Elemental Nations, and in Madoka's World.

Either way, it was irrelevant. Whether the rain had existed or not didn't change the fact that, also unlike the previous two times I had entered a World, I hadn't actually appeared in the middle of a city. Or a village, or a settlement, or anything.

There were few Hearts around, and the simplistic nature of those Hearts was enough to tell me that the owners were likely just animals. Human Hearts, however, were lacking, and it took me several minutes of searching to actually find a group of them.

And by 'group', I mean 'less than thirty'.

I was... more than a little disappointed when I checked it out and found only a bunch of small huts, the people of that group wearing little more than loincloths, and one male teaching a bunch of boys how to throw a spear.

Or, at least, that I assume he was doing.

My voyages throughout the rest of the World... did not bring me much confidence.

It was easy enough to find the groups of people, and easier still to get to where they were, but the numbers and quantity were always... just a little too low.

A small village of slightly under 400 people was the largest group that I had encountered.

Certainly, there were no towns, much less cities. There was nary a sign of industrialisation anywhere, and consequently, no signs of modern civilisation.

And I had no idea why.

The Elemental Nations has had a not exactly modern but still fairly advanced civilisation for several hundred years. The only reason it isn't more advanced is because of the warring clans, followed shortly thereafter by warring villages.

Madoka's World, in turn, has a completely modern civilisation, as well as magic and whatever the hell Kyubey is.

Why the hell did those two have semi-modern and actually-modern civilisations, while Twilight Town wasn't even in the natal stages of industrialisation yet?

What the hell was up with the difference?

And, if Twilight Town was so far into the past as to not even have a society made up of more than 400 people, then exactly how long do I have before the events of Kingdom Hearts take place?

How far back into the past am I?

I could quite literally be anywhere from several hundred to several thousand years in the past.

And if I am, why?

For what possible reason was I put so far back?

Is there something I'm meant to stop?

Or... is it just because somebody felt like being a dick?

Where, what and why.

So many questions.

And there are so few answers.

I drifted through the Sea of the Skies, slowly-yet-quickly making my way to a specific World.

After all the day's revelations, I could use a pick-me-up.

Madoka was always happy to oblige, the girl's seemingly endless cheer always had a way of making me a little bit happier.

Measuring distance in the Sea of the Skies was just about completely useless, but I still reached Madoka's World surprisingly quickly, despite the fact that I hadn't even taken the Corridors of Darkness to get there.

I passed through the Dimensional Barrier, and slipped into a Corridor of Darkness in nearly the same instant, heading towards Homura's house. Which was just about always where Madoka herself was, save for the rare few times that she was out.

And, like just about every other time, it seemed she wasn't. Although, neither Homura or Kyubey were here, though it didn't take much effort to find them on the other side of the city.

I appeared in front of their door, noting that, also like just about every other time, there was absolutely nobody around to see my arrival.

Not that there hadn't been a few close calls every now and then, but I lived with a family of ninjas inside a village made up of more ninjas. Stealth may not be my thing, but I'd picked up more than a few tricks.

Madoka opened the door before I even managed to knock, also like just about every other time, greeting me with a smile on her face and happiness in her Heart.

"Hello again. You're a bit early this time, aren't you?"

"I am. Let's just say that some things came up."

Her head cocked to the side, as it did when she was confused or curious, but she nevertheless took my hand and pulled me into the house.

I noticed her frown as she led me in, and I saw both her glance at my hand and the confusion slowly spiralling into existence in her Heart.

"I do not mind if you ask questions, Madoka. Though you should be aware that I do not always have answers." I gently reminded her.

Nevertheless, she waited until we were both at the living room, sitting in couches opposite of each other. "What happened? You seem..." She stopped, an odd but fairly adorable expression on her face. "... Different, somehow." She finished, slowly.

I nodded. "I am. I am not entirely sure how, nor am I entirely sure why, but something about me has changed. I must admit, I am kind of surprised that you noticed."

"I only noticed after I took your hand." She said, frowning. "Doesn't that worry you?"

I looked at her. "Don't get me wrong, Madoka." My head cocked to the side. "It terrifies me on a primal level. The very idea that something about my 'existence' can change without me know how or why, or even what has changed... is one that I find utterly chilling."

I saw the concern bloom in her Heart, followed shortly after by resolve.

She stood up, walking around the table, and then sat next to me.

I really should have expected it, but, for some reason, it still surprised me when she pulled me into her lap, hugging me tightly to her chest.

Her Light wrapped around me, warm and comforting. I leaned against her, drawing some measure of peace from her presence.

My eyes closed, and I took the moment to calm down as much as I could.

"I'm sure it will all be okay." She stated.

"I can only hope."

My arms wrapped around her, hugging her back.

Inwardly, I frowned.

Since when had I found the Light warm and comforting?