Disclaimer: I do not own Luca or any of the characters in the movie, as they all belong to Disney.
Luca: Nothing was harder than seeing Alberto disappear as the train took Guilia and me down the tracks. I was still processing all the events that had just happened; I mean, this is still such a shock! How was I supposed to know that Alberto planned all this for me? I'm very happy and honored for his kind act, but I'm also still trying to absorb this all in. I'm actually gonna be going to school! And with my new friend Guilia! But I was also going to be far away from Alberto and my family, practically the few people I know and love. I'm gonna miss them a lot, but Guilia has been helping me adjust, especially once I got settled down as we took our seats on the train. But I didn't think how hard Alberto was taking this.
The huge smile Alberto wore as he watched Luca leave on the train slowly started to waver and become a frown as the reality of what had just happened finally settled in. After seeing the train enter the long, dark tunnel as it trekked on the long railroad path to Genova, Alberto couldn't help but slowly raise his hand, trying to reach out to the long-gone train. He wanted to follow the train to join his friends, he wanted the train to suddenly reverse and come back, he wanted everything that just occurred to all be a dream in itself. As he kept looking at the tunnel, he could feel something wet and warm developing around his eyes: big, round, wet tears, that left his skin stained, despite his sea monster form already being out in the open due to the pouring rain. Alberto did his best to try and not let the tears fall, trying to remain strong about what had happened, as he contemplated on everything he did to make this moment happen, wondering if what he did was the right thing. Did he make the right choice? Should he have sold the Vespa to buy the ticket for Luca? Should he have encouraged Luca to go to school? He then shook his head, snapping out of his thoughts before he nodded his head, knowing in his heart, he made the right choice. Anyone else could try to argue that he shouldn't have done this, but Alberto knew….he did the right thing, no matter how hard it was to deal with. He knew this was what Luca really wanted.
His moment of thought was soon interrupted when he felt a hand on his shoulder, making Alberto turn his head to see who it was. It turned out to be Massimo, who asked him gently, "Alberto, stai bene"? Alberto tried to keep a tough front in front of Guilia's father, the man who offered him a job and a place to stay while his daughter and friend attended school, the one-armed man that first made Luca and Alberto terrified before he happily accepted both boys after seeing how close they were with his little Guilietta. Alberto did his best to try and hide how he was feeling, not wanting to seem weak in front of Massimo, but despite the rain doing a great job hiding his tears, Massimo could easily see the feelings of sadness Alberto had. The look in his eyes said it all. Massimo used his free hand and held Alberto's hand while they both walked back up onto the train platform together, Massimo doing his best to try and comfort the saddened sea monster. Alberto soon couldn't hold it in any longer and hugged Massimo, sobbing into his chest while tears streamed down his face. Massimo gently wrapped his arm around the boy, like how he would hug Guilia whenever she was upset or something was bothering her. Massimo couldn't say anything to Alberto at first, though he normally wasn't good with words anyways, but seeing the poor boy so upset, it made his chest ache. He knew very well how Alberto felt, as he had felt the same way he was when he first witnessed Guilia having to leave Portorosso to go live with her mother. This wasn't the first time a scene like this happened, but it didn't make it less painful.
Massimo continued to hug Alberto, not wanting to let go, as he then heard Alberto speak, though his voice was shaky due to the amount of tears that fell. He heard Alberto slowly comment, "I'm so scared for Luca. What if he doesn't come back from Genova after school ends? What if he leaves us…..like my dad did"? Hearing Alberto mention his father leaving him, Massimo was taken aback, surprised to hear of this. While it did seem sort of strange to have not yet met Alberto's family after he got to meet Luca's family, Massimo figured he would've soon got to meet his family. So, to hear that Alberto's father left him all alone….it was like a harpoon to the heart. No child should ever have to experience being abandoned by their own parents, and Massimo could feel Alberto's pain residing by the fear of Luca and Guilia possibly not coming back if something bad happened. After Alberto seemed to have calmed down, Massimo moved his arm so there was a bit of separation between the two, and then said, "Alberto, it'll be ok. I'm sure Luca will come back soon. And I know he misses you as much as you miss him. You both share quite a bond, that is something I know Guilietta has told me a lot about. I know that Luca will always be holding you in his heart, and will come back soon with Guilia so they can spend time with you again." Alberto looked up at the older man, as if he was a very important role-model, in awe, taking the advice he said to heart, before he sniffled, trying to rid the tears that still streamed down his eyes.
Soon, everyone that was still standing around on the train podium started to walk down and head back to their houses. The Paguros were the first to re-enter town and begin to head home, but not before they gave their partings to Massimo and Alberto. After they had left, Massimo and Alberto began to walk back to the house as well. Alberto, however, was a little slower, due to still being overcome with emotions about everything that had happened. Massimo noticed that, and allowed Alberto to walk at his own pace, not rushing him at all. He knew that this was all still so much for Alberto to handle, and figured that with some time, the young boy would soon be feeling a lot better. A little while later, once they both had returned to the house, Alberto found himself laying on the spare bed in the little bedroom he was offered, right next to Guilia's bedroom, as he allowed his thoughts to wander yet again. He could easily imagine how happy Luca was feeling, especially about getting the chance to finally live his dream and go to school. He felt so proud of Luca, and was excited to see how much Luca will learn and how much he'll get to teach him once he and Luca come back next summer. So….why did it hurt so bad? This wasn't like he was getting abandoned, but it still packed a hurtful punch to not have his best friend right alongside him. All of the memories that occurred earlier: the hug they shared with Guilia at the train, the look of surprise when Luca saw the ticket, the hug they both shared when Luca found out that Alberto was staying behind, and the final moments when they were shaking hands together as the train started to leave. All of that kept playing in his head as Alberto felt the tears coming back and streaming down his face, staining his skin as the trails became purple due to his scaly skin. Alberto still felt conflicted about these sudden emotions he was feeling deep inside, unsure if this was Bruno talking…or if it was something else.
Suddenly, Alberto felt something leap onto the bed and crawled up to him, nuzzling its head into Alberto's chest, purring gently to try and comfort the upset boy. Alberto saw that it was just the cat, Machiavelli, as the black-and-white tabby meowed its concerns, trying to help Alberto even feel better. It even licked Alberto's tears away, which to Alberto, it slightly tickled, but it really didn't do much to help him feel better. Alberto petted the cat's back before he rose his hand up towards the ceiling, looking at it, as it was the same hand he used to shake Luca's hand before they separated, as Alberto wished that he could've just held on a little longer. Just for a moment, he wished he had some more time with Luca before he left…..it pained him to see Luca go. Hours later, Machiavelli had fallen asleep on Alberto's chest while the boy kept looking up at the ceiling, dazed with the memories he had with Guilia and Luca. He swore he could hear them both laughing every time his eyes peered towards the window, where the sun was beginning to set in the sky. Across the hallway, behind the closed door, he heard Massimo approach and give a gentle knock as he said, "Alberto, posso entrare"? Alberto snapped out of his dream state and replied with a simple, "Yes," which was all Massimo needed to hear as he gently opened the door and entered the bedroom. When Alberto saw the door open, he was greeted by not only Massimo, but a strange, yet familiar scent. It smelled…really good, almost like….basilico? He turned his head to see what Massimo wanted to say as the older man stated, "I made trenette del pesto for dinner." Massimo felt a warm smile grow when he saw Alberto light up in excitement about hearing what was gonna be for dinner tonight. He remembered how much Luca and Alberto really loved the pasta dish when he first met them, and seeing both boys eating with such vigorous appetites.
So, when he saw Alberto sitting up, carefully picking up Machiavelli so the cat wasn't too startled by the sudden change in movement, Massimo chuckled and said, "I'll bet after everything that has occurred today, you must be hungry, and we don't want the pasts to grown cold. Why don't we go downstairs and eat it together"? Alberto placed Machiavelli on the floor while nodding as he followed Massimo into the kitchen/dining room and sat down at the table while Massimo served them both large portions of the creamy pasta dish. Machiavelli walked over to its little food bowl and sucked on a fish bone that was in his bowl as it watched Alberto and Massimo eat dinner. While they ate, Alberto then asked, "Do you think Luca and Guilia will get to eat trenette del pesto in Genova too"? Massimo replied, "I'm sure, bambino, that they will. Guiletta's mother is quite an impressive cook." Seeing Alberto then grow a little sad again, Massimo then suggested, "Alberto, would you like to learn how to write"? Alberto was a little confused as he asked, "Um, yeah, sure, I would like to learn, but why"? Massimo then answered, "Because then, you can learn how to write a letter, do you can make one and send it to your friend." Alberto then gasped excitedly, saying, "Really? I can send a letter to them"? Massimo nodded as Alberto then quickly stuffed his plate of pasta into his mouth, swallowing it before asking as he slurped up a stray noodle that was hanging from the side of his mouth, "Can we start now"? Massimo chuckled, seeing Alberto quickly cheer up, and eager to learn how to write so he could send his first letter to Luca.
Hours Earlier
Luca still remained standing outside, looking at the sights of Italy as the train continued to roll down the tracks. He was still in complete shock about everything that had happened; not once was he expecting today to occur the way it did. Yesterday, he was just having some fun with Guilia and Alberto, not wanting the summer to end, and now, he was on a train, heading to Genova, now set to go to school. This was all so exciting, and so nerve-wracking too. It was such a surprise, a very nice surprise, but it was also a bit bittersweet because now, he was gonna be spending who knows how long at school with Guilia. It was gonna be a fun experience, but he also felt upset that Alberto wouldn't get to be experiencing this along with them. He missed Alberto, and he wasn't the only one. Guilia saw how upset Luca looked, and she couldn't blame him. She was feeling the same way; especially about being away from Alberto, who has grown to become quite a close friend to her. If anything, deep down, he's become almost like a brother to her, and that was something Guilia found to be quite heart-warming. As an only child, she's always wanted to have a brother or sister, so, it felt sort of natural for Guilia to feel the same way about Alberto. She walked up to the little sea monster and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, saying, "Hey, Luca, it'll be ok. I know alberto's gonna be ok on his own, and hey, my dad will look after him so he won't ever have to be all alone." Luca turned his head to face her while saying, "I know but….I'm so worried about him. What if something bad happens to him while we are at school? What if Ercolo and his goons do something bad to him and we aren't there to help? What if a fisherman mistakes him for a sea monster and-," before he felt Guilia bring him inside, saying in her most reassuring voice, "Hey, hey, it's gonna be ok. If I know Alberto as well as I do, I know that he'll always find a way to make sure he stays safe and ok. He barely shows any fear especially when he declares, "Silenzio, Bruno"! Plus, we can always send a letter to Alberto to let him know how we're doing. I'm sure we can excite him by telling him all the fun we're having on our train ride."
Luca slowly became his human form as he came inside the train cart while the water dripped off of him while said, "Yeah, that's true, and I did promise my mom I would write to her. But….I don't know how to write yet." Guilia chuckled and said, "No problem; once we get to my house in Genova, I can happily show you how to write. It's just as easy as learning how to read." Luca then asked, "So, what do we do on a train anyways"? Guilia replied, "Eh, not much, but it's a lot of fun to go exploring. I can give you a tour of the train if you want." Luca nodded excitedly as Guilia soon led Luca around the cart, explaining, "So, here is your usual train cart. Comfy seats, a place to hold your luggage while you're riding, and a nice view on the outside." Both kids peeked their heads out the window and saw the many beautiful sights of Italy. At the moment, the train was currently passing through a town near the edge of Portorosso, prepared to cross over a bridge that would lead it to a new area of Italy that would bring the train to Genova. There was a small village, and a wide, wide, wide view of what seemed like the never-ending ocean, with a few noticeable islands that flourished with green plants and tall structures created by rocks and years of erosion. Luca looked at the sights in awe as he said, "Wow, it's amazing! Look at how big the ocean is"! Guilia then said, "Wait till you see the view from Genova; your jaw will drop."
Luca then asked, "So, what else does this train have or do"? Guilia led Luca across to another cart, one that was full of dining tables, and a small booth that was full of different kinds of drinks and food, while a waiter walked up and down the cart, serving some of the people that were already eating. Guilia then explained, "This is the dining cart, where you can come and get a bite to eat while riding the train." Luca commented as he looked around, "Wow! Incredible," before he felt his stomach rumble, making Guilia chuckle and say, "Guess you must be hungry. It's almost lunch time anyways. Let me just grab something from my luggage that my papa packed for me to eat. Why don't you save a table for us"? Luca nodded and walked over to a nearby table, sitting in the booth seat as he looked out the window, watching the world pass by as the train kept moving. While looking out the window, he felt his thoughts wander, including around the burning question he kept inside: why? Why did Alberto go out of his way to do this for him? He was very grateful for it, and was so happy and honored to take this chance of a lifetime, but he still felt so confused about what made Alberto sell his Vespa and buy the ticket for him? Luca remained in thought for a while until he heard a male voice ask him, "May I help you"? Luca got a little startled before he turned around and saw a male waiter looking at him, ready to take his order, while Luca remained confused, unsure of what to say or do. Luckily, Guilia soon came over to the table, carrying a small bag, while she said, "Lo siento, senor. He's with me. Two cups of water please, mine with a little ice, ok"? The waiter nodded and went to go fetch their drinks as Guilia then said, "My papa packed an extra sandwich in my bag. You want it"? Luca nodded while Guilia pulled out a perfectly wrapped sandwich and gave it to Luca before she pulled out another one and began to unwrap the foil around it. Luca copied the motions and soon took a bite of the sandwich, instantly enjoying it at first bite. Guilia saw how eagerly Luca was eating as she commented, "slow down; you don't wanna choke." Luca suddenly felt something clog in his throat, making him quickly hit his chest, trying to properly swallow. Guilia quickly patted him on the back, helping Luca to quickly swallow the bit of food that was clogged as he caught his breath, saying, "You were right; I should eat a lot slower, but it's so good." Guilia then said, "I know, but you don't want to choke again, right"? Luca nodded and picked up his sandwich again, slowly eating it this time.
Once the pair had finished eating lunch, Guilia then declared, "Ok, so our next stop on the tour is my favorite part of the train: the caboose." Luca found himself snickering, saying, "Caboose; that's a pretty funny word. What's the caboose"? Guilia replied as she and Luca got up, "Let me show you," and together, they both walked through the dining cart all the way to the back of the train, where the caboose cart was. Inside, the caboose was a lot smaller, but it also held a lot of things. There was a small desk and chair in a corner, and on the walls of the caboose, there was a large map with many marked locations and destinations on it. Finally, on the ceiling, there was what looked like a large string with a handle on the end, making Luca walk around in curiosity as he said, "Amazing! This cart is cool. Hey, what does this string do"? Guilia remembered what the string was for as she raised her hands up, saying, "Wait, Luca, don't-," but then covered her ears when she saw Luca pull the string and heard the loud whistle blow. Luca stumbled back in shock a bit before giggling, saying, "That was fun"! He then pulled on the string a few more times before Guilia stopped him while saying, "Yeah, pulling the string is fun, but we can't do it because it's connected to the whistle. And we don't want to scare any of the passengers do we"? Luca nervously scratched the back of his head while saying, "Yeah, I guess you raise a good point." Suddenly, they both heard someone clear their throat behind them as they turned around and saw a male conductor looking at them as he said, "Might I help you two children"? Guilia quickly bowed and said, "Lo siento, senor. This is my friend's first time on the train and I was just giving him a tour. He was curious about the train and I as just showing him around." The conductor didn't seem to mind as he said, "That's ok, but perhaps next time, try to avoid blowing the whistle so we don't startle the other passengers, ok"? Both kids nodded before the conductor asked, "By the way, do you both have your tickets on you"? Guilia and Luca pulled out their tickets and showed them to the conductor, who looked at them and used a hole puncher to punch a hole in each of their tickets before giving them back and saying, "There you go. Enjoy your train ride."
Guilia and Luca nodded and returned to their seats in the main train cart, as Luca said, "So, what should we do while we wait to arrive in Genova"? Guilia then answered, "Well, I can tell you some stories about what like was like growing up with my mom. You'd be surprised about some of the hilarious antics I've been through." Luca nodded in excitement, ready to listen, as for the remainder of the train ride, Guilia told Luca all of the current stories she could remember about her childhood in Genova with her mother, and some of the hilarious things she did, like one time, when she was first learning how to ride a bike, she fell face-first, and ended up loosing her first tooth, which made a small gap in her teeth. Then, there was another time when she was spending Christmas with both of her parents in Portorosso at the age of 7, she was given a beautifully wrapped box, where inside, she was given Machiavelli, who was a kitten at the time. Later on, at around sundown, the train had finally arrived in Genova, stopping at the train station before it gave a loud whistle, which signified its arrival. Guilia and Luca grabbed their suitcases and carefully exited the train, and got onto the platform, with Guilia saying, "Welcome to Genova, Luca"! Luca looked around the hustling, bustling city, which was a lot busier than Portorosso. There were many more buildings and houses around the streets, many street lights along the block, where he could spot kids playing around together. Luca was so in awe, he almost didn't hear Guilia call out to him, shouting, "Luca! Over here"! The boy turned around and soon saw that Guilia was standing beside an older woman that looked like her, with the same white skin and curly red hair, and was currently wearing a light blue dress with a purple cardigan over it. Luca came over as Guilia introduced the woman, saying, "This is my mom. Mama, meet my friend: Luca, the boy Papa told you about."
The woman smiled armly, saying, "Buon sera Luca, Massimo has told me a lot about you. It's nice to finally meet you" Luca shook hands with the woman while saying, "It's an honor to meet you too Ms. Marcovaldo." The woman smiled before saying, "We hope you'll enjoy your stay here in Genova. I promise you'll love it here, and you'll enjoy getting to go to school as well." Luca had a huge smile in excitement before saying, "I'm pretty excited to be attending." With that, the trio began to walk down from the platform and head towards Guilia's house, where Luca would be staying for the time being in Genova, while Luca looked up at the sunset sky, anticipating what would happen next.