History Fanfic / Darkfire1220sChallenger

''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11803928/1/Challenger Challenger]]'' is a ''{{Anime/Pokemon}}'' fanfic in much the same vein as ''{{FanFic/Traveler}}''- a {{Reconstruction}} AlternateUniverse fanfiction detailing Ash's journey across Kanto while blending in elements of the games- including a [[GreatOffscreenWar background war]] against [[VideoGame/PokemonColosseum Team Cipher]].

* DemotedToExtra: Since the story-line has more similarities with the games, Brock and Misty aren't prevalent outside their gyms and the occasional cameo here and there.

* SpiritualAntithesis: While inspired by Fanfic/{{Traveler}}'s reconstructive take on the ''Pokémon'' mythos, ''Challenger'' is more rooted in science and biology such as how evolution works while ''Traveler'' has a greater emphasis on the mythical aspects of the ''Pokémon'' world such as the {{physical god}}s that roam it and their connections to certain individuals.

** Chapter 29 reveals that Team Rocket managed to capture [[spoiler:''Latios''!]]

* AmplifierArtifact: [[spoiler:Similarly to the Lake of Rage, Team Rocket have a device that forces evolution, which they deploy to destroy the St. Anne.]]

*** Both Pikachu and Eevee [[spoiler:(later Espeon)]] refused nicknames when captured. Rhydon was also not given a nickname on being captured, nor was Froakie or Gyarados.

** Chapter Eight: Ash, Paul, and Gary [[spoiler:attack the Game Corner and are nearly killed by Team Rocket Admins. Pikachu is crippled and needs rehabilitation.]]
** Chapter Sixteen: Team Rocket attack [[spoiler:the St. Anne. Proton and Petrel nearly kill the main characters again, and inform them that the operation was planned specifically to get revenge on them. [[FromBadToWorse Then, Team Rocket's new experimental device activates and evolves every Magikarp in the area to Gyarados, killing thousands of people on the lifeboats. Charizard is knocked out and Ash only survives due to getting caught on a Gyarados fleeing in pain.]]]]

* PutOnABus: [[spoiler:Pikachu gets sent to Vermillion Gym for rehab after being badly injured in the Game Corner.]]
** CommutingOnAbus: [[spoiler:He briefly showed up again while Ash was in Vermillion waiting for the St. Anne.]]

* HopeSpot: Ash has beaten [[spoiler:Proton, and it looks like everyone's going to get out safely. Then Petrel reveals himself, mocks Ash, and reveals that his [[MasterOfIllusion Zoroark has been messing with them the entire time.]] ]]

* ItsPersonal: [[spoiler:Ash develops this relationship with Team Rocket over time, culminating after learning that they destroyed the St. Anne ''just to get at him'', especially after being told by Drake to avoid contact with them.]]

Not to be confused with the other Pokemon fanfic on this wiki called ''{{FanFic/Challenger}}''.

** Paul is nowhere close to as arrogant as he was in the anime, and has a more pleasant {{friendly rivalry}} with Ash. He even helps out against Team Rocket. Also, unlike his anime counterpart, he doesn't abuse his Pokemon or get rid of them when he feels they aren't worth his time anymore.

** In the anime, Paul found Chimchar when he was running for his life and fought back against his attackers. Here, he was given to Paul by Cynthia.

* AlmightyMom: Delia is frightening when she's angry. Even Oak, the former champion of Kanto, doesn't want to be near her when she's pissed off.

* SpiritualAntithesis: While inspired by Fanfic/{{Traveler}}'s reconstructive take on the ''Pokemon'' mythos, ''Challenger'' is more rooted in science and biology such as how evolution works while ''Traveler'' has a greater emphasis on the mythical aspects of the Pokemon world such as the {{physical god}}s that roam it and their connections to certain individuals.

* DarkerAndEdgier: In the same vein as ''Fanfic/{{Traveler}}'', the story is way darker than the anime or games could hope to be, as fights are more visceral and detailed with realistic injuries. Though the story still has plenty of lighthearted moments and is still recognizable Pokémon, it's tone is more in line with the ''Adventure'' mangas.

* HandWave: The regions from the ''VideoGame/PokemonRanger'' series are given reason as to why they completely bar their doors to trainers. Of all the regions to suffer from the Cypher war, they had the worst fallout, so trainers are forbidden from entering.

** Paul's Chimchar is stated and shown to be a battle prodigy, even doing a decent job against one of Paul's Nidoking in a training match.

* SuicidalOverconfidence: Breaking into the Game Corner Team Rocket base to get evidence might have been justified. Continuing to explore was very much this.

* TheHeavy: Of Team Rocket so far, Proton has had by far the greatest amount of interaction with Ash. [[note]]Beaten in Mount Moon just barely, brutalising Pikachu and nearly killing Ash in Celadon, a Steelix intended for him providing the majority of the muscle for the grunts accosting May, and [[spoiler:heading up the attack on the St. Anne that had Ash as its primary target.]] [[/note]]

** Cynthia; while she's still quite the badass, she's not yet Sinnoh's Champion. Though this is justified by the Sinnoh League being a fairly recent development, so there hasn't been anyone strong enough to become Champion.

* BadassInDistress: Cynthia was held captive by Team Rocket after they got the jump on her and knocked her out with Sleep Powder.

* DarkerAndEdgier: In the same vein as ''Fanfic/{{Traveler}}'', the story is way darker than the anime or games could hope to be, though it still has plenty of lighthearted moments and is still recognizable Pokémon.

** It's implied that Chimchar's ''Blaze'' ability is on par with the average Chimchar, where as in the anime, it turned him into an unstoppable force of nature.

!!Tropes applying to Challenger: