The Princess and the Sea Monster: A Luca/Sofia the First fanfiction

Chapter 10: Gelato, Swimming, and Ercole, oh my!

Amber woke up from her slumber, got up, stretched, and yawned. She noticed the window to Alberto's room was open and he wasn't there. Amber wondered where he went. She climbed down the treehouse but slipped and fell until Alberto caught her in his sea monster form. "I got ya, don't worry," he said. "Where were you?" Amber asked him. "Luca and Giulia are going to see Giulia's mom so I went with Massimo to drop them off at the train station." Alberto replied. Machiavelli jumped down from the treehouse and meowed at Amber as Alberto put her down. Amber petted Machiavelli as he purred away and rolled on his back exposing his tummy. Amber thought it was the cutest thing and continued petting him. Alberto sighed at Amber lovingly without her knowing. Then Alberto composed himself as Amber turned around and faced him. "Now where are the butlers, I must get ready for the day," Amber said as Alberto held back his laughter. "That's not how we do it here, princess." Alberto chuckled. Amber felt bummed until Alberto took her hand. "Come on, I'll show you around town. But first, we need to get you some new clothes." he said as he jolted Amber with him. Alberto gave Amber some of Giulia's clothes to change into. When Amber was done, Alberto was in awe. Amber wore the same outfit as Giulia did but with a bow in her hair that matched the same pattern as the shirt. "Wow, you look amazing," Alberto told her. "You're just saying that," Amber huffed. "Am I?" Alberto asked as he handed Amber the necklace he made for her. "My necklace! You found it," Amber said. "It was lying in my room so I thought I would give it back to you," Alberto said rubbing the back of his neck. "Wait, give it back to me?" Amber asked. She looked at Alberto and came to a realization that it was him who rescued Amber. "You...you were the one that rescued me?" Amber asked him. "Guilty as charged," Alberto chuckled. Amber smiled and thought that was very brave of Alberto to come and rescue her. Alberto cleared his throat. "So ready to see around Portorosso?" Alberto asked Amber. Amber nodded. "Oh! I have something to show you, follow me!" he said as he took Amber's hand and brought her with him. Amber followed him until they got to the treehouse. "Feast your eyes on this beauty!" Alberto said as he brought out a green Vespa. "A scooter?" Amber asked. "I guess you could say that," Alberto said. Amber walked up to it. "It sure is beautiful," she said. Alberto told her the story about how the Underdogs won the Vespa in the Portorosso cup. "That's amazing," Amber said. "Would you like to try it out?" Alberto asked. Amber was unsure but Alberto took her anyway. They headed up a steep hill and stayed at the top of the steep hill. "Are you sure about this?" Amber asked. "Of course! Like I said, I'm an expert at this!" Alberto said. Amber sat down on the Vespa as Alberto revved it up. "You ready princess? You might wanna hang on," Alberto said. Alberto started counting down and Amber held onto him as the Vespa took off speeding down the hill. Amber screamed as Alberto shouted happily. Suddenly they almost got to the edge of the walkway with the ocean below it. "Alberto!" Amber shouted. Alberto noticed he was getting too close, sideswiped, and came to a screeching halt. He didn't notice that Amber fell below into the water. "That was fun huh, princess?" he asked. When he turned around, Amber wasn't with him until he looked at the ocean and saw bubbles below. Alberto gasped and jumped into the ocean. When he did, Amber resurfaced with a bunch of seaweed on her. "Woohoo! That was great!" Amber said. "You scared me, I thought you drowned," Alberto said. "Kind of an expert, huh?" Amber said as Alberto got embarrassed. "Hey you know, I try," Alberto said, blushing in his sea monster form. Suddenly, Amber splashed him with water as Alberto did the same back to Amber. They didn't notice but Ercole was watching them play in the water. "So the sea monster likes this princess, eh? My plan will work perfectly then," he evilly chuckled as he snuck off quietly. Amber and Alberto got back to high ground as Alberto shook himself into human form. "I'm starved. Wanna get some gelato?" Alberto asked Amber. "What's gelato?" Amber asked. Alberto took her hand and ran with her to the gelato cafe. When they got there, Alberto got chocolate chip gelato while Amber got mint. They sat at a table and ate it. "This is delicious! I never knew ice cream could be this creamy," Amber said. "Now you know," Alberto said. Amber got ice cream on her face and Alberto did too. Alberto was making funny faces with Amber as Amber giggled and laughed at his silly antics and jokes. Suddenly, a looming shadow stood over the two friends enjoying each other's company. "What do we have here? Looks like fish breath caught himself a girlfriend and a beautiful one at that," Ercole said. Amber remembered Ercole from before and got nervous as Alberto stood his ground. "What do you want Ercole?" Alberto huffed. "I just came by to introduce myself to your friend here," Ercole said as he kissed Amber's hand. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Ercole Visconti and I run this dump of a town. But you are as beautiful as I can have ever imagined," he grinned at Amber. Alberto got jealous and shoved Ercole away. "Back off Ercole! Leave her alone!" Alberto said to Ercole. "Fine with me. Keep your fish brains to yourself sea monster! I have important business to attend to and I don't want you involved," Ercole snapped at Alberto as he walked away. "Come and mess with her again and I will show you what true pain is!" Alberto snapped as Ercole walked away. Alberto walked back to Amber. "Some people can be jerks in this town," Alberto said. Amber blushed until Alberto had an idea. "There's one last place I wanna show you but you'll have to come in the water for this one," he said. He grabbed Amber's hand again and took her to the edge of the ocean. "I think I have had enough swimming for today," Amber said. "Don't worry, I'll take you." Alberto said. He picked up Amber in a piggyback ride and they jumped in the ocean. Alberto swam with Amber on his back to Isle Del Mar where Alberto used to live. They arrived at the tower as they climbed up to the top. Amber walked around and saw a bunch of human stuff until she noticed markings on the wall. "Alberto, what is this?" Amber asked. Alberto looked over at her and sighed sadly. "Truth is I never had a real family until Massimo took me in. My dad left and I never saw him again," Alberto sighed. Amber felt bad for him and sat down next to him. "I never knew my real mother either. My father said she passed away in a carriage accident," she sighed. "At least you're not alone," Alberto said putting his hands on Amber's. "Come on I wanna show you the fish in the sky," he said as he brought Amber to the very top of the tower. It was dark and the stars were out so Amber and Alberto laid down and examined the stars. "See the fish in the sky and how the big fish is followed by little fish?" he told Amber. Amber thought that was very cute of Alberto how he thought stars were in the sky. Amber giggled and explained to him what they really were. "But how did they get up there?" Alberto asked Amber. "We'll save that for another time," Amber smiled then frowned thinking about her brother, stepsister, and her pirate friends. "If there is another time," she sighed. Alberto smiled. "You know you can visit Portorosso anytime," he told Amber. Amber nodded. A shooting star passed by them. Alberto laid back again as Amber sat. "Usually a shooting star means you get to make a wish," Amber said and explained to Alberto what that meant as Alberto looked curious. "I wish I could see my friends and family again," Amber said as she looked up at the night sky. Alberto looked at her lovingly. "I wish I could see you everyday," he soft spoke. Amber turned to face Alberto and they looked at each other's eyes. "Amber, there's something I have been meaning to tell you," Alberto said as Amber listened. "I know it's only been a couple days but...the truth is...I have been crushing on you ever since we met and I..." Alberto was saying as Amber put a finger to Alberto's lips. "You aren't the only one," Amber told him. Alberto smiled and he did the dumbest thing his mind could think of and kissed Amber on the lips to which she returned the favor. It was like heaven, whatever that is, and the kiss lasted for a few minutes. They stopped kissing and separated. "I don't know what came over me,"Alberto blushed. Amber shrugged and grew tired. "We better get back to the treehouse or Massimo will..."Alberto was saying until Amber layer her head in his lap. Alberto smiled and swam her back to the treehouse.