[ Ah, so Shadow was rather new after all. The hedgehog adjusted rather quickly to this world, if that's the case! ... That or he kept his cards close to his chest at all times. Either way, he's asking. And it takes a moment for the spiky-haired human to compose himself. He wasn't one for showing a lot of emotion either. Not around certain people. But over the past couple years it's gotten easier to see the real Cloud beneath that swordsman and former SOLDIER front he once put on. ]

That's right.

[ "Did you go to the past?" ]

Mm. [ He nods, uncrossing his arms and letting his hands rest at his sides. Relaxing a little. ] The more time you spent in there, the more the world was consumed by darkness. Like it was creeping in from the edges of the dimension. Everything was going smoothly...

[ That's when his mako-infused gaze flicks back towards the unsuspecting portal they're guarding. ]

...till it came time to get out.