Hello, hello! It's been a really long time since I've published a new story, and I've been thinking about this one for a while, so I'm uploading the first chapter as a concept idea. It'll get better, I assure you, but there are limits to how much time I can expend on it, given university. Still, it wouldn't hurt to do a spy story, yeah?

For those who are concerned, this is a really, really, expanded spinoff of the Catharsis series.

There have been partial amendments made thanks to Farla.

Chapter one: The Pokémon Regional Union

When breaking news appears, it's usually never good.

However, only a small amount ever is.

"Today is a historic day for Sinnoh, and the entire world: every known region today has allied together to form an international organization for the purpose of promoting international security, prosperity between humans and Pokémon, trade, and much more. Additionally, this international organization will be backed by Pokémon laboratories and supported by the Pokémon Leagues as well. That being said, this organization will try their best to optimise cooperation between regions too. Ladies and gentlemen, this phenomenon created today is simply known, and presented as, the Pokémon Regional Union."

The TV screen flashed an image of the Unity Tower in the Unova Region.

"The United Nations has chosen to be based in Unity Tower in the Unova Region. Here, international trades were accessible to begin with, but the PRU has decided to take steps further to developing economic cooperation between regions with the Elite Four and Champion from each region to be the official representatives of their respective homes. Speaking of which, the Pokémon Leagues will be attending their first meeting in one week, where regions will finally get to hear each other's voices for the first time."

And then the screen flashed off.

Mars took a while to take in the news she had just heard. Deep down, she was really happy that regions no longer needed to live in isolation (as she read in the local newspaper, Unova had never seen a Sinnoh Pokémon until a few of them had made their way there by ferry…). Now, the world might seem to get along even better…

She reclined on her low sofa, in her home in Floaroma Town. At this point, she could only think of the benefits of what the PRU could bring. Now, with the PRU, she could actually market her berries to the international market!

I'll just need to get a permit to be able to sell the berries…

The ex-commander of Team Galactic got up to grab her laptop to search the web for a permit.

As she predicted, Mars couldn't find a permit at all from the Pokémon Regional Union, but common sense told her that the PRU hadn't discussed international trade yet. The PRU had just been formed, after all. Maybe she was rushing it.

Mars simply switched off her computer and sighed.

It had been at over a year since she had been cleared from the records of the International Police and was now a legitimate Trainer residing in Floaroma Town (courtesy of the Pokémon Ranger Kellyn). Now, there was ample time to live a simple life, and she hadn't run into anything that interrupted her life since then. Well, if not counting an inception job she did with a team a while back which had nearly cost her life.

In short, her life was fine.

"Well, Purugly?" she said to her most entrusted Pokémon. "What do you think of the PRU?"

Her cat-like Pokémon shrugged and gave a sound of approval. Mars shook her head, but added a smile to it.

An organization to promote economic prosperity… I wonder how much more they could do. Maybe at the meeting… hmm, maybe they'll present their ideas at the meeting… sheesh there are so many ideas to think of…

Mars figured that that was something beyond half of her understanding.

The world has been so quiet, she thought. And now it's going to get even better. Galactic Energy Limited might as well be the official power supplier of the PRU, ha!

At that, she continued to think of ways that the PRU could benefit the world, particularly viewpoints of supporting Pokémon Centres and Pokémarts. In spite of her thoughts that these were beyond 'half' her understanding, Mars decided to make the most of it. Trade, security, rights…

When she had been working for the former Team Galactic, the only objective in mind was to fulfil Cyrus' wishes, and that the thoughts of the common good never occurred to her. Now that the introduction of the PRU actually brought some sense to her, Mars figured that common rights should certainly be considered. Ironically, Team Galactic had been soon reformed into an energy company…

But come to think of it, each region alone is prosperous already, so why the hassle?

Free trade never seemed to be much of a thought for her. From what she knew, the Hoenn Region distributed Lava Cookies as their primary export and the Johto Region manufacturing impossibly powerful and fantastic medicines. Still, it seemed that each region was basically self-sufficient.

But then, the thoughts of the Orre Region flashed for a mere second in her head, and figured that the idea of free trade was soon justified. In light of that, the Orre Region never had an actual government… who were they to send to the PRU?

Thoughts about security also gave Mars a thought. From what Mars had heard on the recent news, there had been at least one hostile team formed in each region and her prediction was that the PRU would try to put a halt to that by setting… whatever measures would be necessary to do so.

The PRU would probably take care of that.

Mars slowly got up and looked at her Pokémon. Her Bronzor was freely roaming around her house while her Kangaskan was lazily lounging on her sofa. Mars sighed and looked at her remaining Pokémon (Purugly and Marill) who were sleeping.

I guess you guys are tired too.

Lastly, Mars walked over to her newly purchased platform (guarded by a cubic glass top with a secure steel frame that showcased all her currently owned Gym badges in its respective case. With the berry business that Mars had been going through, and not to mention other requests from the Floaroma community, she really had no time to collect her final badge at Snowpoint City (and she was slightly lazy to venture through Mount Coronet as well).

The thought of the Sinnoh Pokémon League Championship might also be something to consider, but Mars wondered if it would ever be regulated by the PRU or just the regular League…

She got up and glanced at the newspaper lying on the floor. A picture of the Unity Tower, surrounded by at least a dozen flags at ground level, stared back at her.

And then a knocking came at her door, interrupting her thoughts.

Mars raised an eyebrow, as if she were surprised. But she pushed the thoughts away and walked over to answer the door.

There we have it: the beginning of 'Eclipse'. Let me know how this idea appeals to you!