I'M ALIVE! Thanks to everyone who was so patient with me these past few months, and I proudly present the newest chapter in Advanced Detective!

Ash attacked his unruly black hair with a comb, desperately trying to flatten his hair, but to no avail. He sighed. If was as if his hair was a separate being that refused to go flat for a while.

He checked out his reflection in the mirror. Dark blue button-up shirt, black belt with a silver buckle, and black dress pants. Ash's mother had insisted he wear these clothes, saying that May would love them and that they would be perfect for his "date".

Ash got in his car (which he had made look like a sleek sports car) and double-checked the note May had given him.

1113 Halibair Drive. The address of his partner and longtime crush.

He drove for about 10 tense minutes, the bass of hip hop beats filling the surprisingly roomy interior of the car. When Ash finally arrived, he was beginning to panic. He had never been on a date before. He had no idea what to do. What if he messed something up? What if he embarrassed himself?

Ash was on his third "what if" when he realized that he had (unknowingly) rung the doorbell.

May checked herself one last time in her shiny, floor-to-ceiling mirror. Bright red dress made of a smooth, silky material and a thin silver belt circling her belt. The look was completed by a pair of scarlet pumps.

May hoped against hope that Ash would like her outfit. Whenever she had time with Ash, she tried to drop as many hints as she could, such as the time when she stripped down to her bikini when they were younger.

Ding-dong!

May's heart nearly skipped a beat. Ash was here.

It's safe to say that May and Ash stood staring at each other for a solid 45 seconds before Ash cleared his throat.

"Um... I think it's time to go. Lucy and Brock are probably worrying about us," Ash said nervously.

May shook her head. "Oh, yeah."

The fifteen minute drive was spent in a tense, nervous silence.

"Hey guys, over here!" a voice called out as Ash and May stepped out of the car. The couple turned around to see their old friend Lucy waving at them, her Seviper-like outfit switched out for a light purple blouse and black skirt, her long hair in a ponytail. Her boyfriend was dressed up very formally, decked out in a blazer and tie (which Lucy had probably wrestled him into).

"Lucy! Man, it's been so long!" May cried, hugging her old friend.

"Nice to see you too, May. And Ash, congrats on becoming a Frontier leader!" Lucy said. "Looks like we'll be coworkers now, huh?"

Ash laughed. "Yup!"

The four headed inside the stylish, modern restaurant. A waiter with a cool bow tie led them to a group of tables outside and showed them to their seats. After a few minutes, the group ordered their food.

"So how goes detective work, guys?" Lucy asked as her main course arrived.

"Pretty good. We've actually got a big case now," Ash said as he slurped his custard.

"Cool! What's it like?"

But Ash didn't respond. Something didn't feel right. It was as if someone was...watching them.

"Hey Ash," May said as she swallowed a bite of fish fingers, "are you feeling oka-"

BOOOOMMM!

A jet of blue energy streaked across the patio, heading straight for the group. Reacting quickly, Ash grabbed May and shoved her to the ground, ducking use in time to avoid what he recognized as a Dragonbreath.

"Arceus almighty!" Brock coughed, pulling himself out of the rubble. "We've gotta get these other people to safety!"

Ash nodded. "May and I will check out where the blast came from!"

Our favorite couple shakily made their way to the scene of the attack, only to see a masked man dash away.

"Hey you! Stop!" Ash yelled, but to no avail. He then noticed that the culprit had left a brightly colored piece of paper.

"Pokestar Studios," May read aloud. "Why would he have this?"

"I don't know," Ash replied with a grim voice. "But we have bigger problems." He turned over the slip of paper.

"The berry deal. It's been moved to tonight."

Bonus points if you can find all the Doctor Who references.