>>52652735Then change the focus, take Ash out of his comfort zone, something similar to the orange league challenges, or Opal's baking contest.
Or do you want to focus on the battles? Well, have Ash try his luck as a gym leader helping Larry with his double turn, seeing the battles from another perspective and with other rules, like always using a single team, limiting his options, using pokemon of a certain level, not allowing changes . Even with everything Ash possibly looks for a way to win, here comes the plot twist with Geeta reprimanding him that as Gym Leader his job is to put the trainers to the test, not beat them up, this would be more philosophical shit that will make the character question where lies the true victory.
ok, it's too pretentious, well you have a "time machine" excuse, let's go to a classic formula:
Have Ash face off against the best trainers in world HISTORY!!!!
