Draco: Battle Revolution's default battle rule for challenging Colosseums is the "Level 30 Open" rule: any Pokémon on your team below Lv30 are bolstered to Lv30, and all opponents have all their Pokémon of equal level to your highest-levelled Pokémon, with 3 Pokémon for a Single Battle and 4 Pokémon for a Double Battle (except for Waterfall Colosseum, whose Team Battle required 5 Pokémon for a Single Battle and 6 Pokémon for a Double Battle). This discourages a "power-level your starter" mentality, but does not punish anyone based on what level they've rounded out their team on. Which Colosseum uses Singles or Doubles is fixed until you defeat the Colosseum Leader once, and then free for you to choose.

Upon beating Mysterial, you unlock the "Level 50 All" rule, which bolsters any low-level Pokémon and reduces any high-level Pokémon so that everyone is at Lv50, with the same team-size requirements as before. Free Battles have access to the Level 50 All rule, but no Level 30 Open and the addition of an "Anything Goes" rule; you could also create up to three custom rulesets to serve your purposes. One of the rules you could set was range of levels that were allowed to participate; this did NOT bolster low-level Pokémon or reduce high-level Pokémon, but simply prohibited them from participating.

For Grand Stage, Battles in Trainer Mode would run on Anything Goes, which basically means storyline gameplay from the core series with "Switch Pokémon" in the Options menu turned to OFF. Colosseum Mode would operate on Level 30 Open rules during your first run in a given Colosseum, and unlock Level 50 All on an individual basis instead of all at once. Battle Mode would have access to Level 50 All, Anything Goes, and custom rulesets that allow you to choose whether Pokémon outside the level range are bolstered/reduced to fit or simply prohibited. Naturally, this means that fighting in Colosseum Mode and Battle Mode has no effect on your Pokémon's experience, friendship, or effort values.

I am writing Jeanne's team as freshly Level 30 for this Colosseum alone. Just before you ask why her team is in the state it's in.

As much as I genuinely miss proper battle-affecting fog from Generation IV, I am annoyed that Courtyard Colosseum having fog was the ONLY randomized weather in Battle Revolution. Each Colosseum in Grand Stage has its own possible start-of-battle weather, appropriate Camouflage, effective Nature Power move, and added Secret Power effect. The latter three are all assigned from the Generation VII list, mostly because Camouflage and Secret Power aren't useable in Generation VIII, but also because there aren't any volcanoes in Galar.

Arrival Colosseum has perpetually clear skies, Camouflage will make your Pokémon a Normal-type, Nature Power will turn into Tri-Attack, and Secret Power may inflict paralysis. Which, given the mindset of competitive video game communities, would probably make Arrival Colosseum the only Colosseum to host battles between hardcores.

Also, exclusively in Colosseum Mode, each Colosseum (that has a clear view of what time of day it is) will have battles taking place at a specific time of day, which should have no gameplay impact when your Pokémon cannot level up or evolve in Colosseum Mode. Battles in Arrival Colosseum take place in broad daylight. Yes, that will be important later on. This is only true for Colosseum Mode; Battle Mode would reflect your system clock.

Thanks to AdavalWasHere for coming up with Miku's opener. Leading into the first battle on each Colosseum challenge, the Virtual Singer is on the battlefield, addressing the crowd in a proper cutscene. I didn't want her rattling off a formula like the Battle Revolution announcer for THAT, but I could not come up with something more... energy-enticing on my own.

Pokémon and all related properties © Nintendo. Virtual Singers of Piapro Studio © Crypton Future Media.

Arrival on the Field

"Is everyone ready?!"

Miku's call from the center of Arrival Colosseum was met with a loud cheer from the crowd lining the bleachers; with a grin, she pumped her fists on either side. "Alright, that's some good noise, guys!" she praised "You better make sure to cheer for our battlers like that! Our first battle is just around the corner, y'know." She swept her hands to either side. "Can you let me hear how excited you are again?!"

Another cheer from the crowd, this one even louder.

"Okay okay okay!" Miku set a hand over her headphones with a giggle. "Even I'm getting impatient now, but no need to worry. We're all set for our first fight of today! I hate to keep you guys waiting, so here come our fighters!"

She started towards the red corner as the doors on either end opened. Jeanne, who was looking at her opponent's Battle Pass on the display nearby, failed to notice until someone near her said "That's your cue", prompting her to dash out onto the field. There was a marked point on the blue corner that she elected to stand on, reaching for her Poké Balls as her opponent passed Miku - a younger-looking boy by the name of Johnny.

"You think you're gonna give me any trouble?" the boy warned, drawing his first Poké Ball and thrusting it forward.

"I'm not gonna back down!" Jeanne countered.

The two hurled their Poké Balls forward at once, and a flash of light emerged as they hit the ground; a slender green figure emerged from Johnny's ball, giving an excited cry before he saw the red-and-white critter before Jeanne.

"In the blue corner: Larvesta! And in the red corner: Grovyle! I wonder how well these Trainers have raised their Pokémon for this battle?"

"Have at 'er, Grovyle!" Johnny commanded. "Quick Attack!"

"Light him up, Larvesta!" Jeanne cheered.

"And the red corner is off with a rush!" Miku cheered over the loudspeaker as Grovyle started moving. Larvesta wreathed herself in flames, but her opponent was already across the halfway point when she started moving, flames whirling around her. Grovyle's blow connected first, but did little to Larvesta compared to the impact her Flame Wheel had on him, leaving him reeling back.

It wasn't enough to knock him out, however; Johnny quickly ordered, "Again!" before the sparks in the air had dispersed, and Grovyle charged forward for another blow.

"Don't let him get in too many!" Jeanne warned; as Grovyle slammed another Quick Attack into Larvesta, the Torch Pokémon grabbed his tail in a ferocious Bug Bite, earning a cry of pain before she slammed the Wood Gecko to the ground.

"Grovyle is down!" Miku observed, the Wood Gecko trying to rise and lacking the strength. "The blue corner has taken an early lead!"

"Enough of that!" Johnny snapped, raising Grovyle's Poké Ball to return him. "Come on, Corvisquire!"

Larvesta cried in concern as the Raven Pokémon emerged; Jeanne was about to withdraw her when she shook her head, taking a ready stance. "...Alright, make some noise!"

"Hone those claws, Corvisquire!" Johnny commanded. "Then wreck 'em!"

Corvisquire started dashing its talons against each other, sharpening those on one foot against the back of the other... but Larvesta gave a ferocious Screech, causing the Raven Pokémon to recoil. With a shake of his head, Corvisquire dove forward, wings shining as he swept so low to the ground his legs were grinding against it, and Larvesta didn't even have the chance to act before he slammed into her, knocking her out and sending her rolling in the process.

"Outshone by a Brave Bird!" Miku warned. "The red corner has evened the field!"

Jeanne raised Larvesta's Poké Ball before the rolling Torch Pokémon could collide with her legs; then she slipped it onto her belt and drew the next. "Let's do this, Archen!" she cheered.

Johnny and Corvisquire's faces fell as they saw the First Bird Pokémon emerge. "Aw, come on... Thief!"

"Rain 'em down!" Jeanne countered as Corvisquire started to soar forward; Archen swept his wings forward, and stones began to rain down from nowhere. Corvisquire couldn't even get close before the bombardment knocked him out of the air, tumbling to the ground at the First Bird Pokémon's feet.

"Tumbled down with the Rock Slide!" Miku observed. "The advantage is back to the blue corner for now, but how long will it last this time?"

Johnny growled, moved to withdraw Corvisquire quickly. "Okay, that's it! Come on, Eelektrik!"

Archen gave a cocky smirk as the EleFish Pokémon emerged, glaring at him even as the sparks were fading; with a chuckle, Jeanne swept her hand forward. "Blow 'em down!"

"Charge Beam!" Johnny ordered; Elelektrik twisted in the air as voltage gathered around her, and Archen promptly flapped forward to unleash a Dragon Breath over his opponent. Unfortunately, paralysis wouldn't take hold on an Electric-type; a focused beam of voltage surged out of Eelektrik's mouth, slamming into Archen and leaving him reeling.

To Johnny's concern, that wasn't quite enough to knock him out; Jeanne took advantage, quickly changing tack. "Another rockfall!"

Johnny shook his head as Archen invoked another Rock Slide. "Hit him again!" he commanded over the sound of the rubble; the dust had yet to clear before Eelektrik's next Charge Beam surged out, sniping the First Bird Pokémon out of the air.

"Both combatants are down to their last Pokémon!" Miku observed as Jeanne withdrew Archen. "Which team will manage to clutch this victory?"

Jeanne hissed in uncertainty. "Here's hoping," she mused. "Let's do this, Goomy!"

Johnny laughed as her last Pokémon took the field. "A wimpy little Goomy?" he taunted. "You're going down! Signal Beam!"

"Wash her out!" Jeanne warned. A ring of water manifested before Goomy, soaring forward as a multicoloured beam of light lunged forward from the EleFish Pokémon's mouth. It soared through the middle of the Water Pulse, slamming into the Soft Tissue Pokémon and causing him to slide backward as the wave struck Eelektrik and knocked her to the ground.

She started to rise again... and then collapsed, prompting Goomy to give a victorious cheer.

"And that's the battle!" Miku proclaimed over the crowd's cheers. Johnny growled, withdrawing Eelektrik as she continued; "The blue corner takes the win! Here's hoping the challenger will show as much tenacity in the battles to come!"

Jeanne smiled as Goomy crawled towards her, kneeling down and giving him a gentle pet; when she raised her gaze, Johnny was already on his way back towards the gate in the red corner, prompting her to withdraw the Soft Tissue Pokémon and return to the blue corner's gate.

+x+x+x+

As confident as she had been coming in, Jeanne wasn't blind to her failings. She had every reason to believe Arrival Colosseum had her easiest opponents; when her fifth battle had two of her Pokémon knocked out before she managed to bring down her opponent's first, she knew they were all gonna have to put in some more training before they hit up any of the other Colosseums.

That didn't mean she was gonna bail on the challenge before she was defeated, however.

"What an amazing battle!" Miku cheered as Lucario gave a resounding victory cry; Jeanne smiled as he came back, giving him a light fist-bump before withdrawing him. "The blue corner managed to make a complete turnaround!" Then, as she was starting back towards the gate; "And with that, the challenger has earned the right to face their final opponent!"

Healing up her team with the machine near the entrance, Jeanne turned towards the screen with her opponent's Battle Pass... and couldn't believe her eyes.

"Take over for me, would you?"

A different woman's voice came through the loudspeaker as Jeanne double-took. "I'd be happy to, Miku!" After a long moment, the figure stepping out onto the field confirmed what the display was proclaiming; Miku was walking out onto the red corner, a Poké Ball in hand. The crowd was cheering as she reached her position, waving to the audience with her free hand; Jeanne quickly reclaimed her team's Poké Balls and slotted them back onto her belt before dashing back out for herself.

"Time for the match we've been waiting for!" the new announcer proclaimed over the speakers. "Our challenger, who's managed to overcome every opponent sent her way, is set to face off against our Colosseum Leader!"

Miku smiled, holding her Poké Ball to one side and swinging it up and down a few times. "Give me a good fight, promise?"

Jeanne nodded, readying her first Poké Ball with a firm glare. "I won't hold back!"

"Let's hope they give us on a good show!"

A figure in bright aquatic hues emerged before Jeanne; on seeing the pink-mawed figure sparkling on the far end, the Pop Star Pokémon rose up on her tail and took a pose. "Brionne in the blue corner; Mawile in the red corner!" The Deceiver Pokémon smirked, doing a brief spin so that her maw-hair flipped up over her head before readying herself with her jaws facing her opponent. "I can't wait to see how this turns out!"

"Wash her out!" Jeanne commanded.

"Stay ready!" Miku retorted.

Brionne lowered onto her front flippers and lunged forward, water ripping up about her as she crossed the battlefield. "All of a sudden, the blue corner takes initiative!" the announcer proclaimed. Mawile merely stood her ground, parting her legs to brace herself as the Aqua Jet slammed into her maw; she skidded away slightly, but particles of metallic light manifested in the air around her, and Brionne had no chance to evade before she twisted around and slammed a blast of light into the Pop Star Pokémon, the Metal Burst knocking her back.

Miku pumped her fist. "Onto the offensive!" she cheered; Mawile didn't even turn her jaws back around, lunging forward as her opponent righted herself. Brionne had no chance to react before a Sucker Punch crossed her snout; the Deceiver Pokémon leapt away as Brionne turned back around, unleashing a BubbleBeam that slammed into Mawile's fore and left her skidding back.

Brionne quickly followed through with an Ice Beam before the last bubbles had popped; Mawile was nearly knocked off her feet, but managed to recover and charged forward for a Brick Break that left Brionne tumbling. As her momentum faded out, the Pop Star Pokémon planted her front flippers on the ground and charged for another Aqua Jet before her tail had even come down; that blow was the last straw, and Mawile was knocked to the ground as Brionne tried to recover.

"That's too much for Mawile!" the announcer bemoaned. "The advantage goes to the blue corner!"

Miku smirked as she withdrew the Deceiver Pokémon. "For now," she taunted. "Let's go, Cherrim!"

"Of course," Jeanne muttered as the Blossom Pokémon emerged. Brionne tried to take aim with an Ice Beam, but a Magical Leaf flurry rushed forward from Cherrim and knocked her out before the ice could gather; Jeanne quickly withdrew the Pop Star Pokémon, muttering a quiet, "I'm sorry" before reaching for her next Poké Ball. "Here we go, Froslass!"

"Let's light this place up!" Miku instructed as the Snow Land Pokémon emerged; Cherrim twisted into a spin, and the sunlight shining down on Arrival Colosseum suddenly became blinding, causing both Trainers to shield their eyes as Cherrim's petals parted. Froslass blew a cold breath onto her hands and rubbed them together before sweeping her hands to her sides and unleashing a howling Frost Breath at her opponent.

Cherrim managed to endure the blow, and her petals spread like wings as sunlight rapidly gathered around her and then ascended heavenward. Froslass braced herself as the searing Solar Beam came down on her; then a spectral flame manifested on one hand, and she hurled it at Cherrim, the Will-O-Wisp leaving a painful burn on the Blossom Pokémon's petals. With a low cry, Cherrim twisted into a spin, scattering cherry blossoms that whirled about her with great force; the bombardment of blooms was too much for Froslass, and the Snow Land Pokémon gave a pained cry as she was thrown to the ground.

"Buried under a Petal Blizzard!" the announcer cried. "The red corner has managed to turn the battle around!"

A hiss escaped Jeanne's lips as she withdrew her Pokémon. "Here's hoping your third slot isn't too much trouble," she muttered, reaching for her last Ball. "Here we go, Lucario!"

Miku's expression became one of concern as the Aura Pokémon emerged. "Light him up!"

"Don't let her!" Jeanne ordered; and as Cherrim was spreading her petals, Lucario rushed across the battlefield, slamming a Quick Attack into the Blossom Pokémon before the sunlight could gather. She was sent tumbling back with a cry, and Miku stomped in frustration, reaching forward a Poké Ball to withdraw Cherrim before returning it to her belt.

"This isn't over yet!" she warned, seizing her last Ball. "Let's go, Porygon2!"

"The last Pokémon from each team has taken the field!" the announcer observed as the Virtual Pokémon emerged. Lucario raised his paws in a ready stance, and Porygon2 only glared. "Who will be the one to tip the scales this time?!"

Jeanne gave a confident smirk. "Full blast!" she commanded Lucario.

"Don't let him!" Miku warned.

Lucario brought his paws back, and aura began to well up between them as three spheres circled Porygon2 - flame, thunder, and frost. With a loud screech, the Virtual Pokémon launched the Tri-Attack, each element soaring forward on a slightly different trajectory as Lucario hurled his projectile. The blast barely skimmed each of the three incoming shots, and Porygon2 reared up defensively as it took the Aura Sphere full-on; Lucario was left bracing himself as fire, ice, and lightning slammed into him, each trying to inhibit him in some way.

None of them did, and when Jeanne asked a concerned "You okay?" she only got a confident growl in return. "Alright, patch up!"

The Aura Pokémon nodded as Miku raised her hand towards the now-upright Porygon2. "Take aim!" she commanded - and then yelped when Lucario made no effort to recover in place, but charged at Porygon2 confidently. Her Pokémon made no hesitation, and an ephemeral crosshair manifested upon Lucario's torso; the Aura Pokémon paid no heed to the Lock-On effort, only slamming a Drain Punch into his opponent that knocked Porygon2 backwards. In the air where it had been, an emerald light lingered for a moment before flowing towards Lucario as it readied its fist before it.

"Now fire!" Miku instructed.

Porygon2 screeched confidently as voltage gathered before its nose; Jeanne yelped, calling to Lucario, "Finish it off!" Lucario growled, leaping into the air and bringing its hands together for another well of aura; Porygon2's body rotated to keep aim, with no apparent exertion on the Pokémon's part, before it lunged its head forward to hurl its own projectile.

As the Zap Cannon was launched skyward, Lucario pitched his Aura Sphere down at his opponent.

There was a devastating blast on the battlefield, and smoke spread as Lucario was launched backwards through the air; he managed to twist himself before he hit the ground, tumbling roughly for a moment and then slamming one paw into the earth to slow himself before he ran into Jeanne. After a moment, he raised his gaze as the smoke began to clear, and Jeanne followed it to see Porygon2 trying to stay in the air.

...It failed, and the Virtual Pokémon fell to the ground with a cry.

"Game, set, match!" the announcer proclaimed as Miku withdrew Porygon2. "The blue corner just barely managed to claim this victory!" Lucario was halfway into pumping his paw into the air victoriously before his body disagreed with it, and Jeanne came up behind him and ruffled his aura sensors before withdrawing him. "And with that, the challenger has triumphed over Arrival Colosseum!"

She was surprised to see Miku making to approach her. "Here's hoping they put on just as much of a show on the rest of their battle challenge!"

"That was an exhilarating battle," the idol praised, offering her hand. "I was hoping I wouldn't go down that easily."

"You call that easy?" Jeanne laughed, taking the hand and shaking it. "You really made me work for that win."

Miku giggled. "Come on," she insisted, making to lead Jeanne back towards the gate. "The others will want to meet you after that."

Jeanne double-took. "Others?!"

+x+x+x+

As if it wasn't surprising enough that Miku deigned to meet her in person at the start, Jeanne was absolutely floored to find the rest of the Piapro idols waiting for her when she emerged victorious.

"There's our triumphant challenger!" Luka praised; Jeanne realized it was her who had been commentating while Miku was on the field.

"That was an amazing battle!" Len cheered. "And this was just your first Colosseum!"

"No kidding!" Rin agreed. "I can't wait to face off with you for myself!"

"Okay, guys, go easy on her," Miku warned the others. "There's a lot more to Pokétopia than just battle, and I don't blame her if she wants a break after that match."

Meiko smiled. "Well, then maybe we'll have the chance to meet you on a different field."

Kaito nodded. "That's right. We're not just combatants ourselves, I'll have you know."

"I'm... looking forward to it!" Jeanne assured them. "Hope to see you guys in Sunny Park one of these days!"

Draco: Won't pretend I'm writing these battles with quite as much announcer chatter as a Stadium game or Battle Revolution, but there's only so much commentary you can intersperse throughout prose.

Battle Revolution awarded "Perfect Points" if you took down an opponent without any of your Pokémon fainting; in the event that you were defeated, if you had earned a Perfect Point earlier in the Colosseum challenge, you could use one to fight your opponent again. I would maintain that system in Grand Stage.

When you defeat Miku in Arrival Colosseum, you get a scene with the rest of the Virtual Singers. In addition to Miku vouching for your Key Stone to Korrina, the group will randomly appear at various locales in Play Mode. Miku and Luka might show up at the Pokémon-Amie Playground, and offer to have their Pokémon join yours in the minigames (useful if you've got ONE new member of a team to make friends with). Kaito may be a participant in a Contest Spectacular, and Meiko may be a participant in a Pokéathlon. Rin and Len might offer to help you make Poffins of a particular flavour; Rin will contribute Sour berries, and Len will contribute Spicy berries.

For those curious, I DID plan full teams for the Virtual Singers. Miku's team consists of Mantine, Liepard, Porygon2, Cherrim, Galarian Farfetch'd, and a Shiny Mawile.