Episode 3: Walking the Rainbow Road


"Good morning, Team Colore!" Nia smiled as the group arrived at the front gate of the Neos Stadium, where people of all ages were streaming inside. "What you are about to do is undertake a feat only a rare few individuals and teams ever complete--rising to the top of the Ferrum League."

She produced a rules sheet from one pocket. "Each League works the same way--you begin as part of a pool of 500, and the top 64 of those go on to the finals, Win that, and you defeat the League Master to earn the right to go on to the next League."

"Okay...what other League records are there?" Ash asked Nia led the way to the red side of the stadium, where they would be competing.

"Well...what you are about to do is called 'walking the rainbow road'." Nia replied as the group arrived in the competitor's box on the left end of the stadium. "Going all the way to the White League and defeating the White League Master after starting from #500 in the Magenta League, where all new Synergists and teams start from."

"Sounds like a long way..." Misty mused as the group made themselves comfortable in a large lounge overlooking the stadium, with a smaller room for the Synergist currently battling.

"Walking the Rainbow Road is only achieved by a few hundred individuals and teams each year, and the feat is even rarer for individuals outside of Ferrum." Nia explained. "Although an outsider winning it all can and has happened before."

Then a thought occurred to her. "The White Master often allows teams to be sponsored--so I applied and got permission to be your team sponsor. This means I can help you plan strategies and tell you a bit about what your opponents are like, but I can't battle for you unless you have no Pokemon fit for battle.

"Okay then, Sponsor Nia, are there any extra rules we should be aware of besides what we learned at the dojo yesterday?" Brock asked as he settled on a couch near the door.

"Well, you don't have to worry about unfairly beating an individual--to keep it fair, individuals and teams have different schedules." Nia replied. "This means an individual will not go up against a team, and vice versa."

"That's a relief..." Serena smiled.

"Team members participate in a rotating order, beginning with the team captain and moving to each team member in turn." Nia went on. "So beginning with Ash, Misty would fight the next match, then Brock, then you, and then back to Ash again. A team wins if they win the majority of their matches--so it is still possible for some matches to be lost and the team still advances to the next round."

"Is it possible for someone to go all the way without even losing?" Ash asked.

"Just reaching the White Master and winning is hard enough." Nia cautioned. "Harder still are the feats of Rainbow Champion and Rainbow Champion Team, which is to reach the top without losing even once."

She noticed a band taking their places on the arena field. "You may want to remove your hats, they're about to play the League anthem." Ash and Serena nodded, then quickly complied.

"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls...please rise and remove your hats as we honor our League with the performance of 'Iron Rainbow'" the arena announcer began as the crowd fell silent.

Once all was quiet, the band began a majestic melody evoking warriors in battle before crescendoing to a spirited fanfare. Wow...I've never heard something this beautiful before... Brock thought as the wave of brass, woodwinds, and drums washed over the stadium.

Thunderous applause filled the air at the song's conclusion. "That blew 'Red, Blue, and Yellow Bold' out of the water!" Brock raved as he applauded.

"You have to remember that 'Red, Blue, and Yellow Bold' started as a drinking song before they rewrote the tune and the words to what it is today." Misty reminded him.

"Huh--learn something new every day." Brock grinned.

"Our first matchup of the Magenta League--Ash Ketchum of Team Colore vs. Deanna Fields of Team Whitecloud." the announcer reported.

Ash took a deep breath to relieve the Beautiflies in his stomach. "Well guys...this is it--what we came all this way to do."

He held out his hand before his friends. "Fire, ruby red..."

"Water, azure blue..." Misty lay her hand on top of Ash's.

"Yellow of a thunder crash..." Serena laid her hand on top of her friends.

"Through green forest Pokemon dash..." Brock added his hand to the growing pile of hands.

"From sunrise pink to victorious white..." Nia also added her hand to the pile.

"WE ARE TEAM COLORE, WITH RAINBOW MIGHT!" all five team members chorused before seperating their hands to excited cheers.

"Now that we have the team cheer out of the way..." Nia showed Ash a brownish gold haired girl alongside an Espeon. "Here is your opponent, the captain of Team Whitecloud. She prefers a hit and run strategy with her Espeon, Ness, but if you can counter Ness before he hits hard, you may have a chance."

Ash nodded. "Ready, Pikachu?"

[Let's do this!] Pikachu replied. [For Team Colore!] he called before skittering off to the competitor entryway.

Ash, meanwhile, settled inside the room with the Synergy Console and eased on his Synergizer. "Pikachu Power, Synergize."

TO BE CONTINUED...