Oh man. Sorry, everyone. I've been away for a long while, and I'm in the middle of a move. I am so, so sorry not to get this done sooner. Anyways, this chapter introduces that there will be a subplot with Meowth as well.

Chapter Two: One Last Day

James laid on his childhood bed, staring at the ceiling. How on earth did he ever get himself mixed up in a mess like this again? Certainly, it had been Jessie and Meowth's fault for forcing him onto the property, but he was the one who had walked up to the door by himself. He was the one who had signed the contract. He was the one who had...

Knocking at the door interupted his train of thought, though he wasn't sure if it was to his relief or his disdain. Everything had span out of control so fast, he was surprised that someone had even taken the curtesy to knock.

James sat up and stared at the door a moment. It wasn't a butler. A butler would have opened the door after knocking. Curious, he held his hand up and called, "Who is it?"

Jessie walked in through the door without a moment's hesitation. "Me, you dolt. Who were you expecting? Jessiebelle?"

"Well..." James scratched his head, staring at the redhead blankly. "You never were one to knock."

A vein popped up on Jessie's forehead. "Very funny." She crossed the floor and sat on the foor of the bed. "So, it seems you've gotten us into a real mess this time."

"Me?" James flinched. "You and Meowth were the ones who wanted on the property so badly!"

"Excuse me. Are you insinuating this is my fault in many way?" Jessie glared at James. "It wasn't my mother who set up this crazy girlfriend contest. Not to mention that your mother and ex-fiancee would have hunted us down like Poocheyena, if we hadn't convinced you onto the property."

"I guess you're right." James dropped his head in depression. "It's not like I wanted any of this."

"Of course not." Jessie leaned back with a slight huff, closing her eyes. "And like always, it's my job to get us out of a mess you caused."

"What?" James looked up quickly. "Jessie, what are you saying? How do you expect to get out of any of this? I'm not allowed off of the property for a month, and there are butlers and guards all over the place!"

"And who said I wanted to leave?" Jessie smirked. "I rather like living in the lap of luxury."

James frowned. "Then how-"

"Oh, use your brain for once, James!" Jessie rolled her eyes. "It's pretty obvious. We just stay here, glutting ourselves on luxury for the next month. Then, once the month is over, we get married."

"Married?" James flinched. "B-b-but Jessie-"

"Let me finish." Jessie flippantly waved her hand in the air. "I mean, all we have to do is just go through the ceremony and live with each other for a month. We can quit Team Rocket, and once a month or two has gone by, we'll just get divorced. I don't need to take half your possessions or anything. Just ten or twenty million dollars."

"The scandal." James was actually pretty impressed by Jessie's scheme, but he still had a hard time hiding his shock. He wasn't sure if he could lie to his mother like that. "But what's to stop my mother from making me get married again?"

Before Jessie could even respond, a whip shot across the room and coiled around her several times. "What the heck!"

A signature laugh cued the entrance of Jessiebelle in all her noble dressings. She stared fiercely at the other redhead. "Excuse me, but what are ya'll doing in here? Ya'll know that James is having his respite today. That means no trying to get an arm up on the competition today." She tugged on her whip. "This isn't going to reflect well on the lady of the house, ya'll intruding on her son's quarters."

Jessie sneered as she struggled against the noblewoman's pull, but her footing was slipping. She showed no weakness, though, as she was pulled into the hall.

James watched the spectacle until the whip's tip flicked back and slammed the door behind the two redheads. Fortunately, it didn't seem as though Jessiebelle had heard Jessie's scheme, and even if she had, he would be more worried for Jessie's sake than his own.

However, he couldn't help but feel suddenly alone. He would have liked it if Meowth, or preferably Growlie, was up there to console him somewhat. At least to have someone to talk to. He stared out the window over the large gardens, not knowing what else to do.

...

Meowth yelled as he was thrown outside. He landed in the dirt with a cough. He stood up and brushed himself off. "Of all de noive."

He froze as a bark sounded behind him. He turned slowly to find himself face to face with a Growlithe. If he had been in any other situation, he probably would have ran for his life. If not for Growlithe being a dog-like Pokemon, the fact that an Officer Jenny wasn't too far behind a Growlithe would have been enough to scare the cat burglar. Here, though, the Growlithe was all right, right?

The cat-like Pokemon stood there a moment, feeling awkward as he stared at the Growlithe a moment. He reached his forepaw out. "Uh, Growlie, right?"

The Growlithe barked happily and pounced Meowth. He didn't growl, but continued to bark happily, shaking his fluffy tail. The scent of James was strong on Meowth, making him a friend in the puppy pokemon's eyes.

"Ugh, yeah, dat's Growlie." Meowth held one arm up to try to shield himself from the licking. "Okay. Okay! Enough!"

Growlie stopped and started growling.

Meowth flinched and began to shake. "Well, okay, keep licking, but don't bite Meowth!"

However, the puppy Pokemon hadn't been growling at the scratch cat Pokemon, but at something else. Meowth soon realized this and looked around. They had suddenly been surrounded by a circle of Swinub. Though the much smaller Pokemon didn't look very intimidating, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something wrong with them and the way the were gathering around the cat and the puppy.

The Swinub soon broke their circle and marched until they formed two lines, like a procession or an escort. They turned and stared expectantly.

Meowth swallowed as Growlie stood up and walked along midst the escort. They didn't seem to be angry or attacking, but there was something awfully screwy with how quietly Growlie was going with them. When he noticed the Growlithe stare back at him and gestured to follow, he ran hurriedly.

The small group began walking through the small field rather quietly. Meowth leaned forward and whispered to the puppy Pokemon. "Like what's going on here? What's wid dese Swinub?"

Growlie responded with a few quiet barks and a yip.

"Oh, I see." Meowth nodded. "So, dese guys are taking us to see the most respected and feared Pokemon on the property." He smiled simply, before what he said hit him. "Wait, what?"

Meowth had to shut up pretty quick as the procession approached a tall hedge wall. There was a large entryway, but the Mamoswine standing on either side were pretty intimidating, even when sleeping as they were.

The patch of property on the other side of the hedge wall turned out to be a hedge dome. There was a Chandelure hanging from the top of the dome, and several Litwicks stood around in the darkness. Being unfamiliar with these ghost Pokemon, Meowth really felt unnerved. It didn't help matters, when the Swinub began to disperse.

"Who dares enter into my dark realm?"

Meowth jumped several feet in the air, and Growlie let out a low growl.

"Growlie, are you that scared?" A Grumpig stepped out of the darkness and turned her head to the dog and cat. Her purple skin looked a haunting blue-gray in the dimly lit dome. Her eyes were closed the whole time she approached them, however.

Meowth cowered behind the much braver Growlithe. He swallowed. "Wh-who de heck are you?" The fact that the larger pig Pokemon seemed to speak without moving it's lips just seemed to make things spookier for him.

"I am Madame Clairvoya." The Grumpig walked quietly past the two and towards a large chair that was made from the brokwn stump of an old tree. She turned and clapped her forehooves. A Golett holding a Spoink quickly ran out from a small hole and up to the Grumpig. The Golett sat down and held up the Spoink on its head like a crystal ball. The front pearl on Madame Clairvoya's head glowed a faint white as did the pearl on the Spoink's head.

After a moment, Meowth took a few steps towards the Grumpig, though Growlie sat rather vigilantly, watching. The cat Pokemon held a paw foreward. "So, uh, um, youse called us here for some reason?"

"I like to see all the new Pokemon, seeing how I am the oldest on the property." Madae Clairvoya sat calmly, staring at her makeshift crystal ball. She soon gasped. "He's back."

To this, Growlie made the first happy bark since he and Meowth had been surrounded by the Swinub.

Meowth, looking between the two, wrung his wrist weakly. "Um, uh, who's back?"

"Who else?" Made Clairvoya smiled gently. She held her arms up high as both of her pearls glowed brightly. "Master James has returned!"

All the other Pokemon in the dome shuddered with glee, whispering quietly. The Chandelure waved back and worth on its hook, laughing.

With a clap of the Grumpig's hands, all went silent again. "Yes, the young master is back. And it appears he is here to stay. Marriage? Yes. I see marriage."

The soft blue flames on the ghost pokemon grew red and pink as more Pokemon gossip seemed to whip around the dome once again.

"And what's more..." Madame Clairvoya's nose twitched. She opened her eyes. They were bright white. Not just the dull white of a blind person, but a bright, ghostly white of the enlightened blind. "We have one of his Pokemon among us."

All went silent suddenly. Every eye in the dome, including the Golett's, the Spoink's, and the eyes of the two Mamoswines outside focused on one specfic point in the dome.

Meowth felt a chill run down his spine. He choked on his own laugh. "What? Youse means Growlie? Yeah, he's here. But he's been here de whole time."

Madame Clairvoya gave an amused smile as she stepped down from her seat. She walked up to Meowth, before waving the Growlithe off. "Growlie, secure the door. I'm sure that Reginald has already picked up our guest's scent."

The fur on Growlie's back bristled as the pup gave a bark that exhumed a few embers. He turned around and pounced out of the door.

"Wh-who's Reginald?" Meowth swallowed as he noticed how much bigger the pig Pokemon was than him.

"A Stoutland." Madame Clairvoya waved her hand again, and the Golett nodded. He left with the Spoink, shutting a small door behind him. "He and Growlie don't get along very well, but what Reginald really hates are newcomers and outsiders."

"M-must be a swell guy." Meowth choked on his laugh again. He decided it was best to change the subject. "So, uh, you know about Jimmy getting married off by his dear ol' mudder. Is that right?"

"We've been expecting it a long time. And only now will it happen." Madame Clairvoya clasped her forehooves together. "It is the most joyous of occasions."

"I'm not sure if Jimmy sees it dat way," Meowth said under his breath. He look back up at the Grumpig. "So, uh, can you see into de future and see who he's going to tie de knot wit'?"

"I cannot see that, despite how many things I can see. That is a thing for the master to decide." She smirked. "If I could see the future that well, I would have known Master James was coming today." She walked back to her chair and sat down. "And before you ask, I speak using my mind, like most Psychic Pokemon."

Meowth nodded as the Grumpig answered his unasked question. "So, uh, can youse narrows it down for me?"

"What's the fun in that?" The Grumpig chuckled warmly. She leaned forward in her chair, keeping her eerily white eyes on the cat. "You have so many other things to concern yourself with." She looked around the room, her pearl glowing a deep blue, as the Litwicks hopped their way to form a circle around Meowth.

To say that this new event spooked Meowth might have been a bit of an understatement. He was screaming his head off, which startled the candle Pokemon.

Madame Clairvoya frowned. "Would you calm down. We need to mask your scent for the time being. And this will keep you warm for the night."

"What?" Meowth looked up at the blind Grumpig.

Closing her eyes, the psychic smiled softly. "Let's just say that two contests will be starting tomorrow."

...

A young woman with light brown hair was tending to the farms with many of her fellow townsfolk, humming happily. Now that the good doctor on the hill turned nice, things just seemed to be going better amd better for her people. And it was ll thanks to Team Righteous. However, now was the time for planting.

That's when a younger boy from her village came running up to her. "Hey. Hey! There's an old guy looking for you!"

The young woman stood up and looked at the boy in shock. "My grandfather, you mean?"

"No. An outsider. He came up in this really fancy horseless carriage. He just drove up and asked for you." The little boy looked up at her. "I didn't know you knew anyone from the outside."

"I... I don't." The young woman followed the boy's lead back to town, growing concerned. There had been no more outsiders, since Team Righteous left, and that had been ages ago. She soon saw the man that the boy had described, and her pace slowed.

The man was an austere-looking butler who stood almost a head taller than most of the villagers. He stood right beside a long black limousine, though most in the village knew not what the vehicle was. He seemed to be combing his mustache as he stared over the crowd.

The maiden stepped up to the mustachioed man, clearing her throat shyly. "U-um, excuse me. I... I heard you were looking f-for me?"

The man's head turned sharply to see his accoster. He held up a photograph and looked it over to study his target. "Yes." He placed the photograph back into a pocket and cleared his throat. "That would be correct, Miss. Milady has requested your attendance to a most noble event. For she intends to marry the young master off."

The girl gasped. She hadn't truly thought about marriage yet, let alone outside the village. And how and why did they know her name and who she was. She looked around at the other villagers. Most of them seemed in awe of her circumstance, and the village elder seemed to nod to her.

The older man produced several documents from his suit coat and opened the door to the limousine's back seat. "I believe you'll find the travel to be a little lengthy, so here is some reading material upon milady and the young master for the trip."

The young woman nodded shyly as she entered the vehicle and took her seat inside the strange vehicle. It was nicely cool, but she couldn't help but wonder what she was getting into with this new adventure. She took the papers as well, before the man took the driver's seat and left the village.

...

A blond young woman walked out to her family's mailbox, waving to the Goldeen swimming in the lawn ponds. She smiled as she stretched her attractive body out in the late morning sun, rubbing her left eye. "Like, there's nothing like, sleeping in late," she said to herself, just as she reached the mailbox. She pulled out several letters and walked back into the house. "Hey, who's all awake?"

"I am!" A younger redhead shouted, fully dressed in her gym leader's uniform and ready for the day. She frowned slightly at the older girl. "I swear, you guys drive me crazy? Could you be any more lazy?"

"Hey, could you just, like, be glad that I decided to get up early today?" The blond woman held up the letters. "Besides, I don't, like, see you making breakfast or checking the mail."

The redhead rolled her eyes. "Maybe not." She smiled and still shook her head in a playfully scolding manner. "So, anything for me?"

"Let's see..." The blond woman flipped through several letters and laid them in front of the redhead. "You even got a few fan letters this time."

"I was a little more concerned about something from the Gym Leader's association." The redhead sighed as she picked through for her intended letters, along with a letter from a certain black-haired twerp. "So, what else is there? It's not like you take care of the bills."

"Oh, please. We've already, like, got those paid." However, the blond's eyebrow raised slightly as she came across a letter with rather fancy writing on it. She had received lots of fanmail with nice or stylistic writing, but you didn't even have to read the name to tell this letter came from someone who was incredibly wealthy and quite the fancy-do.

The blond ripped the envelope open and began reading quickly. She had already read through half of it, when a blue-haired young woman and a pink-haired young woman appeared over her left and right shoulders respectively, as though they had smelt that the letter had something to do with them. They all began squealing at the invitation, before the even finished it.

The redhead jumped slightly at her sisters' exclamation and turned sharply on them. "What's going on?"

The three other sisters looked as though they had showered, applied make-up, gotten dressed, styled their hair, and packed suitcases in the split second it took for the redhead to react.

"Like, lil' Sis, do you think you could watch the gym for a while?" The blue-haired young woman asked. "We, like, have something urgent to go to?"

The redhead began massaging her temples. "That depends. What's this urgent matter?"

"One of us might be able to marry a really rich beau!" The pink-haired sister jumped up and cheered to herself.

"What?" The redhead's eyes widened as she grabbed the letter. "Why don't I get to go?"

"Because..." The blond tapped the letter. "Your name's not on the invitation. Besides, you already have a couple boys." She gestured to the youngest sister's special letter to emphasize.

The redhead blushed, before turning her head. "F-fine. How long is it going to b-"

The three older sisters were outside, sitting in a convertible, getting ready to go.

"Thanks a lot. We knew we could count on you!" The blond smiled and winked.

"We'll see you in about a month!" The blue-haired sister waved as she did up her seat belt.

"Wish us luck! Maybe we can invite you, once one of us has married the rich boy!" The pink-haired young woman giggled as she sat in the back seat.

With that, the oldest sister, sitting behind the driver's wheel, stomped the gas pedal and sent their group careening down the street.

The redhead stomped out onto the front lawn. "You three! You could have at least said a proper goodbye to the Pokemon first!" She rolled her eyes and laughed, though. "Those three are never going to grow up, are they?" She looked over the letter agian, before raising an eyebrow. "I have no idea why, but I have the strangest feeling like I know who sent this invitation. I wonder who it is."

...

A slender young woman with short blond hair woke up and scratched her head slightly. "So early." She stroked the heads of the two Emolga beside her. "Come on, you two. Time to wake up." She virtually leaped out of bed, without another word.

While the two Emolga were yawning and rubbing their eyes, their trainer entered the bathroom, took a quick shower, and prepared her hair and makeup for the day, before the two squirrelly Pokemon could get themselves fully awake, let along bright eyed and bushy tailed. This caused the blond trainer to giggle gently at the two rascals. "Well, I suppose I can't blame you two. Being a model, it's only natural I can get ready so much faster. I don't like having to put up with five hours of makeup or anything else that wastes time like that."

The slender model made her way to the kitchen, her two little Pokemon flying after her. She began the cappuchino machine and began preparing her usual light breakfast. She watched as her Emolga began eating granola and fruit, like she would. She just needed to start off her day with her usual coffee.

That's when the Zebstrika walked in with the morning mail in its mouth. A small newspaper, a few magazines, and several letters were held taughtly in his mouth without getting them wet.

"Good morning, Zebstrika." The young woman held her hand out for the mail. She began flipping through the mail, setting the paper to the side to read later. She flicked past a couple magazines. "Why does my manager have me suscribe to fashion magazines I always show up in? It's not like I'm not at the photo shoot or don't know what the clothes look like." She sighed as the magazines went straight to the trash basket. She began flicking through the letters. "Bill, bill, invitation, from my manager, bi..." She paused as she flicked back to the invitation. The address was one she hadn't seen, and she knew nearly everyone in Unova.

"I wonder who..." She pulled the envelope open and began reading through the letter. She raised an eyebrow, before a slight smile wiggled its way onto her face. "Well, this sounds rather enjoyable. Almost like visiting Cynthia." She looked out of a window. "Summer is just around the corner, but I suppose I could take a month or so off. I'll just need to get the gym closed for my abscence..."

The two Emolga were looking up at their trainer curiously, their cheeks stuffed. The Zebstrika watched her peculiarly.

The lean lady smiled to her Pokemon. "We'll be spending the afternoon packing, you guys. We're just getting out of town for a bit. It'll do us some good. Seems these people have a lot of land for you guys to run around on."

The three Pokemon all cheered, anticipating the coming of a vacation. The two Emolga began skittering back to their trainer's bedroom.

The trainer herself laughed and ran gracefully after them. "Oh no you don't, you two! I'm packing my own clothes. Stay out of my drawers!"

The Zebstrika rolled his eyes and followed them as well.

...

Anyways, there's the collection of girls. The real contest will start next chapter, though. I hope to update a little quicker from now on.

Again, my apologies for being gone so long. I hope this story will be entertaining.

Oh, by the way, I did notice that a lot of people requested various Team Rocket members: Cassidy, Wendy, and Domino. Thing is, Domino is a little too obsessed with Giovanni. Wendy sounded fun, except she was pretty much resolved, so she doesn't have a lot of jokes behind her. I might introduce Cassidy in a little later, but with Butch, it's a little tough to give a reason for James' mother to invite her to be a contestant. They weren't bad, so much as not what I was looking for. Besides, there's the question of whether James's mother would actually invite Team Rocket members as, unlike Jessie's mother, she had no positive associations with the criminal organization. I even considered using Annie and Oakley, but again they probably wouldn't be allowed on the estate without an invitation.

I was actually pretty fortunate with some of the suggestions, however, as they were clever and could work effectively. Can you guess our remaining girls?