In those frozen moments, Delia assessed that her pokemon was doomed.
Even if Dodrio could out-speed the cobra, it was only a matter of time before a single strong attack would knock it out. Arbok watched the Dodrio with glaring intensity, its red eyes focused on the three-headed bird. It could barely keep its other two heads up, and Delia could feel its knees buckling, the deep breaths in and out. The spotlights gave off even more heat, and Delia's skin cooked in the bright lights.
The referee signaled the battle to begin. As he called the battle, Delia decided on one very important thing; Dodrio may go down now, but it won't go quietly.
"DODRIO, DRILL PECK!"
All three heads perked up and charged, its pointed claws breaking open the ground underneath. All three heads squawked and descended on the cobra, their beaks spinning in chaotic patterns. They slammed into Arbok but not before its reptilian eyes started glowing.
The announcer's voice crept into Delia's attention: "ARBOK IS USING ITS GLARE ATTACK!"
Before Dodrio could regain its footing, its legs froze in place. One of Dodrio's head panicked, another looked despondent, but the third screeched in defiance.
Delia watched as the snake reared up and shot out a noxious, odorous slime on the bird pokemon. It used an acid attack, and it hit Dodrio directly. In no time, the three-headed champion collapsed on the floor. Three down, and only two to go.
Delia took rapid breaths. She edged closer to oblivion, to losing in front of the world, in front of everyone, including Ray. She couldn't let that happen. Starry may not be ready, but that's all she has. Delia regretted setting aside Weepinbell as she sent out her star pokemon. Her Staryu was the one pokemon she didn't level up as high as the others. It might still be faster, but that's about it.
Staryu's red gem glistened in the lights as it stood stiff in the lights. The referee called the start of the match. On Delia's command, Staryu launched in the air and released bullets of water towards Arbok. The snake recoiled and cried a screech at Staryu. Delia saw it shake in midair. Its defense had lowered. This wasn't good.
"KEEP HITTING IT, STARRY!"
It kept swirling in midair, shooting Arbok with water gun attacks, but they didn't seem to phase Arbok. It shot out another acid attack from its mouth, hitting Starry directly before it had a chance to avoid. It fell to the ground and struggled to get up. Before it could try attacking one more time, it succumbed to the poison that ate at its last bit of health.
Delia felt her heart beating in her neck. She called back Starry and held one last pokeball in her sweaty hand. The ball looked scratched and worn out from the times the pokemon swatted it away with its claws. One time she used the ball as a toy to get it active as a baby. She wasn't that afraid when the ball started feeling warm in her palm.
She launched the ball in the air. As it hung in the sky, it violently crashed open, sending flames of white light onto the stage. The beams of energy solidified, and the following roar sent ripples of excitement into the crowd.
Delia was down to her last pokemon, her strongest and most loyal companion, her Charmeleon.
It glared down the snake and shook with intense energy. The flame at the tip of Charmeleon's tail glowed slightly blue. They had to win this, now or never.