Dino was getting kind of annoyed.

They had taken down the leader of a criminal organization and her croonies. Minor members of The Hallowed Church were being rounded up as they spoke.

You'd think that get them a little recognition? A little praise? Maybe just a pat on the back?

No. What Dino and his friends got was a death glare from Valerie.

"Irresponsible! I can't believe you would-"

"Calm Down. We handled it just fine." Allison said.

Valerie glared at them. Best not provoke her. Dino thought.

"This isn't a joke." Valerie said. "The three of you could've died, or-" her voice broke.

"We didn't though." Dino said softly . He put a hand on her shoulder. "So it's okay, Senior. We're okay."

Valerie nodded, wiping a tear. Just then, Topher walked in. It had been two weeks since Masa's attack. Topher had just got out of the hospital, as his injuries were minor, and Dino went to pick him up.

Despite looking like he wanted to sleep until Arceus returned, Dino thought he looked alright.

"Topher!" Valerie ran and hugged the boy, and he groaned. "Ow, ow, oww."

Valerie pulled back. "Sorry! Did I hurt you, my little sprite?"

Topher looked down. "No." he muttered. Dino wondered if he was feeling extra shy, or if the floor was just really interesting.

Allison went up and clapped him on the back, laughing as he gave her an annoyed glower. "So, how's our reigning champ? Feel good knowing you beat someone who ran a group of criminals slightly more aggravating than Door-to-door salesman?"

"You are so annoying." Topher groaned. "And I didn't beat her by myself-"

"Yes yes, we too are awesome. We know." Dino grinned. "But you fought her for the longest and endured her shocks. That's pretty cool."

"But I-"

"Plus you beat two of her Pokemon alone." Allison interrupted. "Whereas we had to do it together."

"But Areina helped-"

Allison shook her head. "So?"

"So? So, I wouldn't of won if not for you guys and Team Ambrette." Topher argued.

"And? You still did well. We all did." Dino countered, grabbing Topher's wrist. "Take pride in that."

Topher looked down again, then pulled away his arm. "Whatever." he said. "That's not important. What is important: what happened to the Hallowed Church?"

"Masa and the others were interrogated, and their base was found." Allison said. "They're officially done."

"So we can leave?" Topher asked.

Valerie frowned. "Why? Are you in a hurry to leave me?"

"That's not it... I just... It's nothing." he rubbed the back of his head.

Valerie put a hand on Topher's shoulder. She was one of the three people he would let do that. "Are you okay?"

Topher nodded. "I'm fine."

Valerie hesitated, and Allison took that as her opportunity to strike. "Excuse me? That's Taurus shit. "She knew Topher was fine- just like she knew that he wouldn't just come out and tell her. When Topher was upset, you had to pull the reason out of him bit by bit.

Or you could use Allison's much simpler method- yank it out of him.

"What's wrong?" she made it clear she wasn't taking no for an answer. Dino almost felt sorry for him.

Topher muttered something. As he did, he grabbed a Pokeball off his belt and rolled it around in his palm. "It's what she said..."

"About what?" Dino asked.

"About Carbink. She called him evil." Topher closed his eyes.

Valerie's eyebrows furrowed, then she nodded. "I can see why that would trouble you, my little sprite."

"I can't." Dino said stubbornly. "Who cares what those depraved cultists say? Any Pokemon raised by you couldn't be anything but good."

Topher coughed nervously. "I guess."

"He's right!" Allison insisted. "Pokemon aren't evil!"

Topher nodded. "I know... But the way Masa said it, it's like she couldn't see Carbink as anything but evil. It bothers me that there's a whole religion that thinks that way."

Dino was shocked. Not only was Topher was talking more than usual, he was sharing how he felt.

She must have really scared him.

Dino shook her head. He had to get through to Topher. "Topher, I understand how you feel. But do you honestly think Pokemon can be evil?"

Topher looked up. "Pokemon don't have our same morality system. They think in terms of friend or foe, not good and evil. So no, Pokemon can not be evil. They can be owned by evil people, but they are not evil."

Dino grabbed him and forced the other boy to look at him. "Is that what you believe?"

Topher shook his head . "I don't just believe it. I know it. There is scientific proof of my theory."

"And the Hallowed Church has no proof of what they're saying." Dino said. "So why do you care what they believe?"

Topher smiled. "I don't."

"Good." Dino said. "You shouldn't. Because they can't touch us anymore."

Gale was going to kill those kids.

But first she had to deal with her subordinates.

Gale rubbed her temples. These buffoons would be the death of her.

First, Joseph slips up. That was hard enough to explain to her followers. But Masa. She just had to lose to those brats. Covering that up was difficult- luckily Masa, Joseph, and Volterre were loyal enough to lie and say Masa was the leader. She didn't want to, but she had to let them go to the police. Gale didn't have to worry about the minor members of the church- they would lie, presuming they valued their lives.

And if they didn't? Well, it wouldn't matter by then. They would be hidden.

And those kids? What to do with them?

Gale knew what. Their was one thing to do with trainers who could beat Masa.

Gale called Arch Bishop Andreas into her office.