Yoho, everyone! I'm back with a semi-sequel to my first fanfiction. I say semi-sequel because I kinda skipped some games in the Sonic timeline. In any case, this time around I'm tackling a game whose reception has been less than perfect. Hopefully you'll like this version better.

And of course, in keeping in line with the predecessor, there's going to be Advanceshipping in here: more so than before, so if you don't like it, don't flame me for it.

Interesting fact: I don't own Sonic, Pokemon, or anything affiliated with said-franchises.

Okay, that's all. Read away!

Chapter 1: Mysterious Sights

Not far from the metropolitan Goldenrod City was Ilex Forest: the only forest in all of Johto. Like most forests, it was really not that threatening for even a timid soul. Difficulty in navigating this small forest was minimal, so nobody had problems moving through.

Well, almost nobody.

The exception happened to be an unfortunate group of four travelers hoping to make their way to Goldenrod City. Their leader, a thick-headed young man with a mess of raven hair that was contained only by his red cap, had gotten them lost thanks to his stubbornness and refusal to consult anyone else for directions. Before they knew it, the sun was setting, sealing their fate for that night. They camped out, settling for homemade stew instead of the ramen one of them, a brunette with a green bandanna on her head, was so eager to dig into. While the stew was amazing as always, she was still irritated at the leader for getting them into this predicament. A few hours later, they settled down to go to bed.

The leader, however, didn't see sleep come to him so easily tonight. As soon as he saw everyone was asleep, he got out of bed, slipped on his black and yellow vest, and quietly made his way out to a clearing where he could see the sky. On nights like this when he couldn't sleep, the stars were his best friends, second only to his eternal companion: a small, yellow rodent-like creature with red spots on its cheeks and a tail shaped like a lightning bolt. Though he had stolen away like a ninja, the little rodent, being practically a part of him, sensed instantly that his best friend was gone and dashed off to find him, being quiet as well since he didn't want to wake anyone.

The raven-haired boy didn't notice, as his eyes were glued on the stars, and his mind was wandering to the same topic it had been wandering to at least once a day since the adventure they'd had in Saffron City. I don't understand why I'm thinking about this so much he thought, trying to shake his mind free. What does it mean? Why do I care so much? I mean, I always cared, but now I care even more. Do I care too much? I sure hope not.

"Pika?"

He turned to face his best friend, who was looking at him with concern. "Hey, Pikachu," he smiled weakly. "You couldn't sleep either, hm?"

"Pika pikachu," Pikachu shook his head.

"I'm just thinking, that's all." He looked up, and a small frown lined his face. "Darn. No stars out tonight. Stupid clouds."

"Pi," Pikachu nodded, then turned around and headed back to camp.

He watched him go, a small smile on his face. "Sleep well, buddy." Then he looked down again, fiddling with his hands. He wasn't keeping track of time, but he did this for about two minutes.

"Ash?"

He jumped at the sudden voice and looked to see the brunette coming towards him. "What are you doing out here?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.

"Just seeing if I can see any stars," Ash replied, an uneasy feeling in his stomach.

"Really?" she raised her eyebrows. "You like star-watching?"

"Only when I really can't sleep," he explained. "Too bad you can't see the stars out tonight."

She came and sat beside him and frowned. "Dang," she muttered. "I hate it when clouds get in the way of such a beautiful sight. Of course it could be worse: light pollution just kills them off."

"Yeah," Ash sighed, looking towards the sky. "Are you ready for your contest, May?"

"I think so," she smiled. "Beautifly and I should have no problem sweeping this one!"

"That's good to hear," he returned the smile.

"Sure is. Hey, are the clouds parting?"

"Huh?" They both looked up and saw the clouds slowly but surely parting for them to see the stars.

"Uh, May?" Ash started awkwardly.

"What is it, Ash?" May replied.

Ash felt his face heat up as he stuttered, "I'm sorry I got us lost."

She raised an eyebrow, then chuckled. "It's no big deal, Ash. We'll get there tomorrow, right?"

"Right," Ash blushed furiously. Thankfully, May couldn't see it because it was so dark out.

"Here come the stars," she grinned.

He grinned likewise, but their grins quickly faded as their jaws dropped and their eyes grew wide at what they saw.

"I-Is that –?!" May stuttered in disbelief.

"But...I don't understand," Ash stuttered.

In the sky, the starlight paled in comparison to the bright light that shone in the sky and looked like it was flying across with the trail that was behind it.

"The Millennium Comet!?" Ash breathed in shock.

"But how?" May whispered, equally shocked.

Far from where our four friends slept and star-watched, to the north of Goldenrod City, a lone figure stood the next morning as the sun shone in the East. His short, black and red arms were crossed over the white hair on his black chest. His black and red legs were set so that his white and red hover-shoes were directly under his shoulders. A perpetual frown lined his muzzle and crimson eyes.

He watched as the city came to life, all the humans buzzing around excitedly for the day's activities. They all wore smiles on their faces.

Shadow.

He sighed somberly. Why does that name haunt me? It's the only thing I can remember...and that gruesome image!

He squeezed his eyes painfully as he witnessed the same scene that plagued him in his nightmares flash through his mind again, unsure what it meant. Only one word was uttered at the end of this scene:

MARIA!

His eyes shot open, confused and angry, but he didn't know why. "Who am I?" he wondered aloud. "And why can't I remember anything? And this...Maria...who is she?"

He stood there a few minutes more, just watching everything going on around him. After a while, he decided that standing around wasn't getting him any answers, so he decided on doing something. Before he could do anything, however, he noticed a shadow cast over him. Curious, he looked to the sky and saw a massive battleship moving towards Goldenrod City. He watched the people continue their business as though nothing were happening.

He raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "What are they doing? Don't they see the ship?" He grunted and turned away. "Bah, what do I care? They have no answers for me."

Shadow.

There it was again: the name that haunted him, yet gave him a sense of identity. He shrugged it off, not willing to put up with a headache.

SHADOW.

He stopped. That wasn't his head. He turned around and saw a small device float towards him. A hologram appeared out of this device, revealing an ominous figure with a horned helmet and a billowing cape. Clawed hands and feet adorned his figure.

"Can you see it, Shadow?" He looked up at the ship again. "Yes...yes, you can. Then you know well that the day of reckoning is approaching. Find the seven Chaos Emeralds, and bring them to me as promised."

"Wait," he snapped out of his trance, "who are you?! And how do you know I'm Shadow?" The figure didn't respond. The hologram disappeared, and the device exploded in his face. "How did he know me? Wait a minute," he lit up, an idea forming in his head, "if he knows my name, then he must know who I am." He stopped himself as quickly as he started. "But could it be a trick? No. It doesn't matter. I've got to believe him." He looked up, another idea forming. "Either way, though, those Chaos Emeralds...could they be the answer?" His heart leapt. "That's it! That's where the answers are." He clenched his fist, new purpose shining in his eyes. "The only way I'm going to unlock the secrets of my past is if I get those Chaos Emeralds."

With that, Shadow the Hedgehog dashed towards the city as the battleship loomed over it, apparently invisible to everyone but the black hedgehog.

That's right! The Millennium Comet is back! Heheh...only yesterday I got to see the sixth Pokemon movie for the first time. Funny, huh?

Oh, never mind. Feel free to rate and review.