Penny and Amara found themselves mounted on Miraidon's back as they wound through the switchbacks that marked the trail up Glaseado Mountain. "Honestly, why is this gym in the middle of nowhere?" Amara had complained. Now that they were almost there, though, Amara couldn't argue that the view of Paldea was marvelous, and the chill of the air helped her feel like a person. "I'll have to thank Chien-Pao, I guess." She said to Penny, who squeezed her waist in response. They rode for another thirty minutes before they arrived at the Glaseado gym and Amara collected her registration packet.
"Thank Heatran it's warm in here." Penny said as she poured herself some complimentary coffee and sat next to Amara. "So, the gym leader is an ice type trainer. Are you going to steamroll him with Armarouge?" Penny asked. Amara affirmed that Armarouge would be going first, and if that didn't work, she had two more fire types ready to go. After a few more minutes, Amara stood and submitted her packet to the staff member.
"Alright, your gym test is to, and I'm quoting the gym leader directly here, 'shred mad powder on the course out back'. The course is open now, we could get you processed and have you on the slope in about fifteen minutes." The staff member smiled at Amara, who agreed. She made her way back to Penny and poured herself a cup of coffee, then sat. Penny kissed her cheek and the two women waited.
"I apparently am off to slalom, my dear." Amara told Penny, who grumbled about going out in the cold again, but stood, nonetheless. The staff member escorted Amara and Penny to the slope, and Amara got kitted up in a pair of skis and swallowed her nervousness. She took her place at the starting line, the staff member blew the whistle, and Amara let gravity pull her downhill.
She found the wind in her face exhilarating, and by using her skiing poles to adjust her angle, she found controlling her movement to be easy. She reached the bottom of the slope well within the time limit, the staff member smiled, and a man in a big jacket and blue scarf made his way toward Amara. "Not bad. Was that your first downhill?" He asked as he held up his fist. Amara bumped fists with him and confirmed that yeah, she'd never done this before. Her words made the man's demeanor soften. "That's fuckin' rad. I'm gym leader Grisha. You wanna go battle it out? I got time."
"Fuck yeah, I'm following you." Amara smiled as Grisha a little sled and gave the reins to his Stoutland. Amara hopped on, and the two were back at the top before Amara could blink. Penny pulled Amara into a hug, then Grisha introduced himself to her.
"Anyway, Amara, let's hit it." He said as they made their way down the mountaintop and onto the battle court. "And, just between you and me, you're like my first challenger in ten weeks. Don't let me down." He pulled out his Poké Ball and moved into position. Amara did the same and readied Armarouge's Poké Ball.
The battle was much more intense than Amara had expected. Armarouge made quick work of Grisha's Abomasnow, but then he tossed out a Weavile and Amara started swearing. Armarouge successfully took two dark type attacks, but then crumpled, so Amara pulled him back and tossed out her Camerupt. Camerupt burst onto the battlefield and let out a massive Flamethrower that knocked Weavile out of the battle. Grisha gave a chuckle and tossed out his third Pokémon, a Froslass. "Let's play a game, Amara. Try to keep up." Grisha called as he pulled out his Tera Orb and threw it toward Froslass. As the Terastal phenomenon took hold and Froslass burst forth with a water type Tera Jewel on its head, Amara's cursing only grew louder. "Froslass, Water Pulse!"
The attack brought Camerupt down, so Amara grabbed Meowscarada's Poké Ball and tossed him onto the battlefield. "Meowscarada, be careful. She probably still has ice attacks!" Meowscarada nodded and began moving and dodging the blasts of Ice Beam Froslass launched across the battlefield. He got close, and his arms turned to sharp leaves as he unleashed a powerful Leaf Blade. The attack knocked Froslass out, and as the Tera Jewel shattered, Amara pulled Meowscarada back in.
She readied her Poké Ball and tossed Garganacl onto the battlefield, then readied her Tera Orb. The Terastal phenomenon took hold, and Garganacl stood, wreathed in fire. "I'll play your game!" Amara called to Grisha. Garganacl delivered a powerful fire Punch to the Galarian Darmanitan that Grisha tossed out next, leading Grisha to shrug and pull out his final Poké Ball. Amara liked to think that under that big scarf, Grisha wore a smile as he tossed Alolan Ninetails onto the battlefield. Ninetails gave a low growl toward Garganacl, but Garganacl readied another Fire Punch and brought Ninetails down, ending the battle in Amara's favor.
Grisha made his way across the court to Amara and shook her hand. "Not bad. Take this gym badge and head over the mountain to see Ryme and get your last one. You did good, Amara." Amara took the badge and put it in her case with the others. "You're pretty good at this whole 'Pokémon battle' thing, by the by. You're the first challenger I've had beat me since Nemona plowed through here."
Amara chuckled. "I'll see you later, Grisha. I'm headed to Montenevera." She gave a wave and met Penny at the edge of the battle court, where the two women climbed aboard Miraidon and rode up the mountain trail.