>>58214929>tobiasfags trying to fit inTobias was never a rival, it was a one time character for a one time event and had one single match against Ash and nothing else, that's not a rival. Alan on the other hand was introduced with his own special parallel to Ash's story, the openings showed him as Ash's reflection, then featured him along Swayer (also Ash's rival) for one of the guys he and Greninja had to battle and they battled more than once during the series, first mid-journey and then in the league, which Alain only joined because his rivalry with Ash and his megastoneless Mega Greninja.
Tobias is some trainer Ash never beat. Alain is the rival Ash never beat.
