Chapter 7: Future Mother-Daughter BondingIt's currently one and a half months since Leicester and Carina began dating. Carina, still in her nightgown, but not wearing the hat that goes with it, is sitting down at her dresser and looking in the mirror as she brushes her hair. She is surprised by her door opening, expecting it to be her beloved boyfriend, but instead it's Minette, also in her nightgown, that enters Carina's bedroom. Carina, able to see Minette through her mirror, is happy to see her.
Carina: (Looking towards Minette) Morning, Minette.
Minette: Morning, Carina.
The automata girl comes up to Lady Carina, wanting to watch her get ready to start the day.
Minette: Can I watch you get ready?
Carina: Of course you can.
Minette: Papa really loves you. (Hugs Carina) I do, too.
Carina, a tiny bit shocked, is amazed that Minette loves her in the way that a daughter would love her mother. But Carina isn't her mother. Not yet.
Carina: Did you just say you love me?
Minette: Yes. You love Papa very much. I want you and Papa to get married someday, that way you can become my Mama.
Carina can't help but blush at the fact that Leicester's daughter wants her to marry Leicester one day. The Jewel of Ert'Aria has always hoped that would one day happen. Minette breaks the hug and Carina gets out of her chair and helps Minette onto it. Taking her hairbrush, Carina begins to brush Minette's hair, the young girl giggling in the process.
Carina: I think you should look pretty today.
Minette: Don't I always look pretty?
Carina: Well, I think you should look special today.
Carina grabs the hat that goes with her normal outfit and puts it on Minette's head. Minette looks at herself in the mirror and likes how she looks wearing Carina's hat.
Minette: (Looking at Carina's necklace) Carina, can I wear your necklace?
Carina: I guess you could for a little bit.
Carina takes the Rainbow Crystite necklace Leicester made for her two weeks ago and puts it on Minette's neck. Minette loves how beautiful the necklace looks.
Carina: I know I said I would never take if off, but I can make an exception for you.
Lady Carina wraps her arms around Minette and gives her a hug. Minette can't help but giggle at the hug the noble lady is giving her. Leicester opens the door to see the two spending time with one another and can't help but smile. He can already tell that Carina will make a great mother for Minette one day.
Carina: How would you like to come with me while I perform my duties today?
Minette: I'd love to.
Carina: (Letting go of Minette) First we need to get ready. How about I dress you today.
Minette: Okay, Carina.
Carina gently takes her necklace from Minette's neck and puts it back on her own. Later, Minette is wearing a nice blue-and-white dress that Carina picked out for her while Carina is back in her normal outfit, including her hat. Both head out of Carina's bedroom and head into the dining room where Leicester is waiting for them. Carina goes to her boyfriend and gives him a kiss.
Carina: Hi, Leicester.
Leicester: Hi, Carina. (Kisses her back, then sees Minette) Minette, you look nice today.
Minette: Thanks, Papa. (Looking at Carina) Carina picked it out for me. Guess what? I'm going to go with Carina while she does her duties.
Leicester: Okay then. I can tell you love being around Carina.
Carina: She actually wants me to be her mother one day.
Leicester: (To Carina) I know. I want you both to be happy.
Carina: Thanks, my love.
Leicester: I'm going to head off to Verdine Forest for the day to find a crystite for your mother that she wants. (Looks at Carina's necklace) Of course no crystite will ever be a wonderful as the one that makes up that necklace.
Carina can't help but blush as she kisses Leicester on the cheek.
Carina: Well, we're going to go now.
Leicester: I'll try to bring you something back.
Minette: Bye, Papa.
Leicester: You two have fun.
Carina and Minette leave the Oasis house to go to where Carina will perform her duties. As he watches them head down the street, Leicester can't help but love how Carina is spending time with his daughter and says this about them.
Leicester: Minette, you'll have a wonderful mother one day.
Later on, Carina and Minette are at the Verritti mansion, Carina once again in her black-color outfit. Both are seeing Carina's parents, who are delighted that their daughter brought Minette along with her.
Minette: Hi, Mr. And Mrs. Verritti.
Fabious: Mr. and Mrs. Verritti? You're just like your father sometimes.
Minette: What do you mean?
Fabious: You should call me Fabious. In fact, (To Carina) seeing how things are going with you and Leicester, (Closed eye expression) Minette will one day be calling me Grandpa.
Fiore: I know it's a bit sudden, but do you and Leicester have any marriage plans yet?
Carina: Marriage? (Blushes) Well, no, but we hope to one day.
Minette: Come on, Carina! Papa loves you very much! (Hugs Carina) I want to be able to call you Mama!
Carina: Well, (Closed eye expression) we need to wait for him to decide when it's time he wants to marry me. We shouldn't rush him.
Fabious: You're right. We shouldn't rush things here. Carina, perhaps you can show Minette your duties. Maybe she'd like to help you out with them.
Carina: You think?
Minette: (Closed eye expression) Sure I would! I want to see what it's like.
Carina: Okay then.
As the day goes on, Minette gets to see the various things Lady Carina does when she's doing her duties. At one point, Carina is sitting down in the mansion reading a book while Minette watches her. Minette decides to turn one of the pages for Carina. Later, the two of them are in the cathedral looking at the various Artifacts. Minette's eyes are fixated on a green-color medium-size crystal, shaped differently than a crystite.
Minette: Carina, what's this called?
Carina: It's known as a Prismati Relic. There are only eight of them in existence, one for each color of the rainbow.
Minette: Each color of the rainbow?
Carina: Yes. Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Teal, Blue, Indigo, and Violet. Half of them have been discovered; Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue. We're not sure where the other four are.
Minette: What are they for?
Carina: I'm not really sure. I remember Dad telling me a story about them when I was little. (Puts her hand on Minette's arm) But I think it's just a legend.
Minette: Could you tell me the story?
Carina: I can if you want.
Carina starts telling Minette the story her father once told her. However, in Verdine Forest, Leicester has gone on his own and has found an area of Rainbow Flowers and decides to pick a number of them.
Leicester: There. This should be a good amount.
Later during the day, Carina, back in her normal outfit, takes Minette through the market and finds Chelsea, once again lost, this time on the way to Café Celestial Garden.
Minette: Hi, Chelsea!
Chelsea: Hi, Minette. Hi, Carina.
Carina: Chelsea, what are you doing here?
Chelsea: Well, I was on my way to the café, and… (Sees that she's in the market) this is not the café, is it?
Carina: Sorry. We can take you there.
Minette: Carina, can we help Chelsea out today?
Carina: (Remembering when she helped at the café) Sure, why not.
A short time later, at Café Celestial Garden, Chelsea and Carina are back in their waitress uniforms, and Minette is wearing one as well. All three of them serve the various customers, with Minette getting a lot of attention.
Minette: (To Carina) This is fun!
Carina: I know. It's too bad Leicester isn't here to see this.
Minette goes up to a male customer to ask him his order.
Minette: Welcome to Café Celestial Garden. How may I help you?
Customer: Minette? You're working here?
Minette has become quite popular in Ert'Aria since she was discovered. In fact, she has her own fan club. It's no surprise this customer knows her.
Minette: Just for today. I'm helping Chelsea and Carina out.
Customer: I'll have a couple hamburgers.
Minette: Okay, sir. I'll get that to you as soon as possible.
Carina and Chelsea are adoring Minette helping out at the café and are glad she's doing such a good job. Later, all three of them are back in their normal outfits (Minette is wearing the outfit Carina picked out for her) and leave the café. In town square, they see that is Agnes once again entertaining guests with one of her performances.
Minette: Carina, can we go see Agnes?
Carina: Of course we can.
All three of them wait until Agnes is done before going up to her. The street performer is happy to see them and goes up to greet them.
Agnes: Hi, everyone!
Carina: Hi, Agnes!
Minette: Hello, Agnes!
Agnes: What are all of you doing here?
Minette: I'm spending the day with Carina. I actually got to help her with her duties.
Chelsea: And she helped out at the café.
Agnes: That's great. Carina? Minette? Do you two want to help me out with our next act?
Minette: I'd love to!
Carina: We have some time. Okay!
Agnes starts up her next act, with Minette and Carina both active participants. Both of them are quite happy in performing in Agnes's show. Everyone in the audience can't help but cheer them all on. Carina, Minette, and Agnes all smile happily at the applause they get.
After the show is done, Agnes joins the group as they travel through the town some more. In front of Tortilla Company's building, Salsa and Ritos are cleaning Golem. Salsa has finally gotten over the fact that Leicester and Carina are together and has accepted it. As the quartet sees them, she feels just fine.
Salsa: Hey, everyone. Where are you going?
Minette: Salsa! Ritos! What are you up to?
Ritos: We need to clean Golem once again.
Salsa: We're just about do…
Salsa ends up slipping and falling off of Golem, yelling in the process.
Salsa: (In pain) …one.
Minette: Salsa, are you all right?
Ritos: (Looks at Salsa) Yeah. She'll be fine.
Carina: We were just about to head back to Oasis house.
Agnes: Do you want to come?
Ritos: (Thinks about it for a second) Sure, why not?
Salsa: (Getting up) We have nothing else to do.
Golem: Golem?
Ritos: Sorry, Golem. We need you to watch the place while we're gone.
Salsa: We'll be back soon.
Minette: Come on! Let's go!
The half-dozen girls make it back to the Oasis house, where Nina and Shelley are waiting for them. However, Leicester hasn't gotten back yet, and Nick is currently doing some business in town.
Shelley: Wow. Look at all of you.
Carina: Where's Leicester?
Nina: He hasn't gotten back yet. He should be home soon, though.
Agnes: How about this. Why don't we all surprise Leicester with a beach party for when he gets back?
Minette: That sounds like fun!
Carina: (Thinking about Leicester) I think Leicester would be happy to see me in a bikini.
Chelsea: Thinking about your boyfriend again.
Carina: Sorry.
Chelsea: It's okay. We all know how much you love each other.
Salsa: What are we waiting for?! Let's hit the beach!
Ritos: (Calmly) Yeah. What my sister said.
The next thing that happens is that Carina, Minette, Chelsea, Agnes, Salsa, and Ritos are all in their swimsuits and playing in the water or on the beach, a similar scene to what they did after they found Garnet. Minette and Carina happen to be quite playful with one another, as they splash each other with water, laughing while doing so. Agnes sends a splash of water towards Chelsea, who is a bit nervous about being in a bikini.
Chelsea: Agnes, watch what you're doing!
Agnes: You mean (splashes water at Chelsea again) THIS?!
Chelsea: Quit it!
Minette jumps from behind Carina and wraps her arms around her as they fall forward into the water. The two can't help but laugh. After all, the two are bonding more than ever.
Minette: I love you, Carina.
Carina: You know what? (Grabs Minette from behind) I love you, too. I can't wait until the day when you start calling me Mama!
Minette: You'll be the best Mama in the world!
Carina laughs happily at Minette's statement. After all, she's grown to love Leicester so much that she's starting to love his daughter as well. After all, it's platonic love that the two girls show for each other. The two share a hug, which is interrupted by Agnes splashing some water at them.
Carina: Watch it, Agnes!
Minette decides to give Agnes a taste of her own medicine by splashing some water at her. After doing so, Carina's necklace takes in some sunlight and lets off a beautiful array of rainbow colors, which everyone can see.
On the beach, Nina and Shelley, also wearing the bikinis they wore the last time such a beach party occurred, are watching everyone have fun in the water. Shelley is lying down in a lawn chair while Nina is standing right next to her.
Shelley: (Sitting up) I can't believe how much Carina and Minette are bonding with one another. I can tell why Leicester loves both of them so much.
Nina: (Seeing the rainbow colors from Carina's necklace) That necklace Lady Carina is wearing is very beautiful.
At this point, Leicester has finally made it back, with Nick joining him. Leicester happens to have a bouquet of the Rainbow Flowers he picked while in Verdine Forest and also some candy. Upon seeing his mother and maid on the beach, he decides to go up to them.
Leicester: Mom, what is everyone doing?
Shelley: They're having some sort of beach party.
All of the girls stop what they're going in the water and head onto the beach. Carina and Minette head up to Leicester, the two of them the happiest to see them.
Carina: Leicester, you're back!
Minette: Welcome back, Papa!
Leicester goes up to them both and presents Carina with the Rainbow Flower bouquet, which makes her very happy.
Leicester: This is for you, my love.
Carina: (Taking the bouquet) Leicester, they're beautiful.
Leicester: Not as beautiful as you.
Leicester and Carina wrap their arms around each other, Carina still holding the bouquet, and share a passionate kiss, water still dripping from Carina's hair and body. Her boyfriend doesn't mind that his clothes are getting a little wet as a result.
Eventually, the two break the kiss and embrace and Leicester decides to give the candy he got to Minette.
Leicester: He you go, Minette.
Minette takes the candy and gives her father a hug. After doing so, Carina and Minette line up with the rest of the girls, all of them wanting Leicester to pick who's wearing the best bikini. But the thing is that his judgment might be a little biased.
Salsa: Come on, Leicester! Which of us looks the best?!
Ritos: He'll probably choose his girlfriend.
Agnes: Yeah. This isn't really that fair anymore.
Chelsea: She's still holding that bouquet.
Shelley: (Coming up to her son) Come on, Leicester. Pick one.
Leicester decides that he should choose who he thinks has the best swimsuit. Unable to decide, he says this.
Leicester: Carina and Minette. I wouldn't pick any other two.
Carina and Minette, both excited that the former's boyfriend and the latter's father picked them, run up to him and give him a hug together. Carina also kisses him on the cheek. Leicester can't be happier, as he has a beautiful girlfriend and a wonderful daughter.
Eventually, the events of the day are done and at this point, it's past midnight. Carina is fast asleep in her bed when Leicester comes into her room and gently wakes her up. Carina's eyes open up to see her boyfriend looking at her.
Carina: Leicester, what are you doing here?
Leicester: Carina, please go get Minette. I want you both to see this.
Carina: What is it?
Leicester: You'll see.
Lady Carina gets out of her bed and heads to Minette's room to wake her up. The automata girl is surprised to see Carina at such a late hour.
Minette: (Sleepily) Carina, what are you doing here?
Carina: You father wants us to see something.
Carina takes Minette back into her bedroom where Leicester is waiting for both of them. He takes them to the window, where he opens up the curtains to reveal a beautiful array of glowing stars in the night sky, a rare occurrence. Both girls are amazed at such a wonderful sight as Carina takes Leicester's arm and both of them put their hands on Minette's shoulders.
Carina: Leicester, it's beautiful.
Minette: Papa, what is it?
Leicester: It's El energy lighting up the stars. It happens once a year. I wanted us to all see this.
Minette: It looks wonderful.
Leicester, Carina, and Minette all go to Carina's bed and sit on it while still looking at the stars in the sky.
Carina: Leicester, (Kisses him on the cheek) thanks for doing this for us.
Leicester: There's nothing I wouldn't do for the two most wonderful girls in my life.
Minette: You really mean that?
Leicester: Of course I do. You two mean so much to me.
Leicester can't help but wrap his arms around his girlfriend and give her a long kiss. Carina starts kissing back during the kiss as she blushes. After the kiss, Leicester keeps his arms wrapped around the Jewel of Ert'Aria while Minette hugs him from his other side. It's almost like they're a family. In fact, they hope to one day be such.
The feeling Leicester has can only be described as bliss, as he's embracing the love of his life while his daughter is embracing him. Looking up at the shining stars in the sky, all three of them look toward the future.
Author Notes
Here happens to be Chapter 7 of my Shukufuku no Campanella fanfic. I decided to have it center around Carina and Minette bonding (hence the title). Just note that Minette loves Carina in the way a daughter would love her mother and vice-versa.
I randomly threw in one more café scene due to how the events of the chapter were unfolding and also had a beach scene towards the end (which is meant to be similar to Episode 2 of the anime). On one last note, the next chapter will be the last one of the fic, but will then pave way for hopefully the next fic.