Hi FoLCs!

Below is the list of stories that are eligible for "Best Challenge Response"! We've compiled them by all the relevant challenges.

🚨 Please, please let us know if we missed anything so that we can update the list ASAP! 🚨

And if you need a refresher on Best Challenge Response, here’s the category description:
This award honors the extra creativity required to craft a quality story around a certain set of parameters. Here, the challenge of the challenge is how it acts as the integral lynchpin of the story, not just a footnote, within the responding fic. A creative twist can turn a little challenge into a fic with mega impact! This includes all stories written in response to challenges and ficathons posted on the Lois and Clark Fanfic Message Board (any challenge regardless of the year it was posted; but only story responses that were posted in 2025 are eligible). This also includes Discord dares and specific request fulfillments, and this year, our beloved Summer Ficathon.

Note: While this is one of the more objective categories, the definition isn’t super strict. Bottom line is – if one or more FoLCs said or posted something that resulted directly in someone writing a fic, then it belongs here. If you know of another fic that belongs here, please let us know ASAP!


😈 Discord Dares and Specific Request Fulfillments 😈

Fade to Black: Pilot (The Interview) by lovetvfan
155 kB (29,402 words)
Story (nFanfic) | Story (AO3)
Summary: A Fade to Black for the very first episode. What would happen if Lois actually DID break her rules with Clark?

*Pro tip: If you tell lovetvfan’s muse that a realistic Fade to Black can not be done for [insert name of episode], she takes it as a personal challenge and then produces the fic.

Nope by SuperBek
7 kB (1,229 words)
Story
Summary: Lois and Clark have hit a roadblock in an investigation they’ve been working on for weeks. When Perry offers up an unconventional lead that might allow them to crack the case, Clark reluctantly agrees.

Author’s note: I…don’t know. Read at your own risk. This came from somewhere. I think it was a challenge issued by KSaraSara on Discord, which arose in the general chaos that happened after KateSO posted some generated images of Superman pole dancing… So, um, enjoy?


🏆 Kerth Challenges 🏆

The Best Man (Kerth Challenge) by 90stvfangirl
12 kB (2,148 words)
Story | Story (AO3)
Summary: Lois & Clark get invited to a wedding and find out something about themselves.
Response to 2025 Kerth Challenge #3

Date Night (Kerth Challenge #4) by 90stvfangirl
6 kB (1,034 words)
Story | Story (AO3)
Summary: Lois has a date to keep. Is everything as it seems?
Response to 2025 Kerth Challenge #4

I'm Sorry by AmandaK
8 kB (1,422 words)
Story
Summary: Clark finds a unique way to apologize. Part of the Try Not to Change Anything series. Answer to 2025 Kerth Challenge #2.
Response to 2025 Kerth Challenge #2

The More Things Change by AmandaK
14 kB (2,448 words)
Story
Summary: Some things never change - but Clark will be darned if he lets this series of events play out the same way they did before. Part of the Try Not to Change Anything series. Answer to 2025 Kerth Challenge #1.
Response to 2025 Kerth Challenge #1

The More Things Stay the Same by AmandaK
83 kB (15,537 words)
Story
Summary: Directly following the events of The More Things Change Clark takes steps to prevent a repeat of events from the first time Lois lost her memory. But he quickly finds that the old adage is true - the more things change, the more they stay the same. Part of the Try Not to Change Anything series. Answer to 2025 Kerth Challenge #4.
Response to 2025 Kerth Challenge #4

My Uncle's Greek Wedding (Challenge #3) by CalliopeWayne
5 kB (804 words)
Story
Response to 2025 Kerth Challenge #3

Perfectly Decent by 90stvfangirl
11 kB (1,986 words)
Story | Story (AO3)
Summary: When the Daily Planet installs an instant messaging system on the employees' computers, secrets are revealed.
Kerth challenge #2 from last year
Response to 2025 Kerth Challenge #2

A Wedding in Smallville by AmandaK
16 kB (2,821 words)
Story
Summary: Clark brings Lois to Smallville for a friend's wedding - but in doing so, he must reveal to his parents just how much Lois knows. Part of the Try Not to Change Anything Series. Answer to 2025 Kerth Challenge #3.
Response to 2025 Kerth Challenge #3


☀️ 2025 Guess the Author Summer Ficathon ☀️

A Bird in Hand (2025SF for kSaraSara) by Blg1987
44 kB (8,105 words)
Story | Story (Archive) | Story (AO3)
Summary: When Alt Clark is thrown into a prison cell in the Congo, he is surprised to find an unexpected cellmate hiding in the darkness.

But Who's Got You? (2025SF for Amanda K) by LoveTVFan
230 kB (43,755 words)
Story | Story (AO3)
Summary: Set in the Alternate Universe. Clark Kent is still getting used to being Superman. But in his world he has no secret identity to hide behind, no parents to confide in and the Lois Lane of his universe disappeared three years before he came to Metropolis. He was told that she was his soul mate and that finding her would be impossible. But Clark does not believe in soul mates and HG Wells knows that nothing is impossible.

Cacophony (2025SF for BlueOwl) by Idontknowwhatthatmeans5678 / SonicMessiah
58 kB (10,418 words)
Story | Story (Archive) | Story (AO3)
Summary: Funny, episodic piece. A mysterious chocolate shop has opened, and Perry wants his two best reporters on the case. People are breaking into song and dance all over the city. It’s early season 1, Clark loves Lois, but does she love him? How will he know? What shenanigans will ensue?

Cravings (2025SF for Idon’tknowwhatthatmeans5678) by aPurpleOkie
12 kB (2,065 words)
Story

A Different Perspective (2025SF for CaliopeWayne) by Krista / FragmentedSandwiches
8 kB (1,479 words)
Story

Falling for You (2025SF for JadedEvie) by kSaraSara
19 kB (3,475 words)
Story | Story (Archive)
Summary: Lois has been doing a lot of falling lately. Mostly off buildings. But after her former finacé’s fall from grace—and his building—she’s also spent the last six months falling for her best friend and partner. Both Lois’s and Clark’s nerves are frayed, and Lois has been catching feelings while Superman’s been catching her. Now the only question left to answer, aside from Lois’s new falling habit, is if cupid’s arrow will fall true.

A Gathering of Echoed Souls (2025SF for Krista) by JellyS2
146 kB (26,518 words)
Story

Gifts Really Do Solve Everything (2025SF for Bakasi) by Darth Michael
36 kB (6,700 words)
Story | Story (Archive)
Summary: It’s “Whine, Whine, Whine,” and Lois has to decide between her three suitors. But what happens when the Fates intervene in an unexpected way?

Just Us This Time (2025SF for LoveTVFan) by Kathryn84
25 kB (4,377 words)
Story

The Lab Incident (2025SF for blg1987) by BlindPassenger
8 kB (1,171 words)
Story

The Pachyderm in the Parlor (2025SF for Darth Michael) by AmandaK
47 kB (8,704 words)
Story

Relief (2025SF for Kaylle) by Blueowl
10 kB (1,697 words)
Story
Summary: Takes place in the beginning of season 3. Clark joins Lois on a stakeout after an extended rescue overseas. 2025 Prompt Ficathon.

Riptide (2025SF for Kathryn84) by CalliopeWayne
115 kB (20,800 words)
Story

Sanctuary (2025SF for aPurpleOakie) by Kaylle
35 kB (6,363 words)
Story

The Secrets of Dating (2025SF for JellyS2) by bakasi
47 kB (8,900 words)
Story

Sleight of Hand (2025SF for QueenoftheCapes) by JadedEvie
137 kB (24,937 words)
Story | Story (Archive)
Summary: When Clark starts his day with a crime wave on the west side and terrible news at the Planet, he goes looking for answers and finds more than he bargained for. Going undercover leads him to work with an unexpected ally as he chases an insidious new threat to Metropolis and tries to protect what’s most important to him. With a little whammy angst to start, a couple of non-whammy twists and a WAFFY thread running throughout, this ends in a hopeful place.

A Whole New World (2025SF for BlindPassenger) by 90stvfangirl
11 kB (1,924 words)
Story | Story (AO3)
Summary: Lois & Clark have a secret to share with Lois's parents.

Youngest Reporter (2025SF for 90sTVFanGirl) by Queen of the Capes
6 kB (938 words)
Story


wildguy Just remember, let us know if you think there’s a Challenge story we’ve missed ASAP! wildguy

Thanks, FoLCs!


Have a question? Ask on any of the boards posts or PM any of the K-Com members or reach out on Discord too! You can also send an email to us here: Kcom@kerthawards.com

The Kerth Committee
(KSaraSara, Darth Michael, lovetvfan, and JadedEvie)

Looking forward to this summer's Location Challenge! Looks like stories are due around August 1st, and then polls open for voting!

And don't forget about the 2026 fundraiser! Head over to the Fundraising page to donate or consider adding a story to the Keepsake Collection fundraising drive!