It was finally time for The Portorosso Cup. Luca decided to split the team up, but even though we were racing against him, I was still rooting for him. Giulia and I settled on me cycling and she'd do the rest. I figured that would be the easiest way, especially now that I'm part sea monster. I also need to keep this secret to myself. Ever since Ercole saw Alberto in his sea monster form yesterday, fisherman have been tasked to keep their eyes out for sea monsters during the swimming event, one of them being my uncle.

I watched the swimmers get prepared and I stood beside my uncle and Machiavelli, holding a banner that read: Vai Giulia! "Good luck, Giulia!" I shouted. "We believe in you!" Then I saw Ercole pouring oil on his teammate. "Are these judges blind?" I asked. In the distance, I saw Luca coming to the beach, wearing a diving suit. "Luca, this is a very bad idea!" Giulia shouted. I'm guessing she found out his secret. "Hey, vagrant, can't afford a proper swimsuit?" Ercole teased. "Signor e signori, The Portorosso Cup is about to begin!" Signora Marsigliese announced. "We know there's been a few sightings lately, but fear not, if any sea monsters show up today, we're ready for them!" I gulped on behalf of myself and Luca. "Swimmers, take your mark!" She rang the bell and the race began. "I hope you know what you're doing, Luca." I whispered to myself as all the swimmers went into the water. The swimmers were pretty fun to watch. Ercole's follower got bit by some fish, and Luca just walked on the ocean floor.

Giulia was the first to finish swimming. As soon as everyone gets out of the water, they go to a nearby table to eat their pasta. I ran closer to the table for Giulia to tag me when she's finished. Luca quickly ran to the table, hiding his head in his suit. Giulia chowed down on the trenette and tagged me once she finished. I hopped onto a bike and started my journey towards the finish line.

I was ahead of everyone for the race. But, I saw a familiar face running in the distance. It was Alberto, holding a large blue umbrella. "Alberto?" I asked, hitting the brakes on my bike, looking up at the darkened clouds. "Oh my cod, is it about to rain?" "Yeah, we don't have much time." Alberto explains. "I need to find Luca." "Get on the bike, but this time, I'm taking the wheel." I said. "Why are you helping me?" He asked. "You're risking the win." "One, in case you forgot, I'm a human/sea monster hybrid." I replied. "And two, we underdogs have to stick together." Alberto got behind me on my bike as I turned around.

As we rode up the hill, we saw Luca taking shelter underneath a roof. "Luca!" I shouted. "Just stay right there!" Alberto added. "We're coming for you!" "What's wrong, piccoletto, afraid of a little rain?" Ercole teased as he saw us coming to him. "For the last time, you two don't belong here, get out of my town!" He stopped us by bumping into my bike, causing both me and Alberto to fall and transform in front of everyone. I landed really hard on my head, but I did hear panicking. "Sea monsters, two of them!" Ercole shouted. Many people grabbed their harpoons and nets. "Chiara!" Alberto cried, turning to Luca. "Alberto?" Luca asked, about to go towards him, but Alberto stopped him. "No, you're still okay. STAY AWAY FROM HER!" Ercole threw a net at us and other people pointed harpoons at us. "Alberto, Chiara!" Luca cried. His anger was rising quickly. Luca adjusted his bike and started riding over to us as he transformed. "Go with Luca." I said. "I can't just leave you here." Alberto's voice broke. "You guys need to get out of here as soon as possible." I whimpered, kissing him. "I'll be okay." Luca reached out his webbed hand and grabbed Alberto, who was shedding tears. After Ercole left with his harpoon to capture Luca and Alberto, more people pointed harpoons at me, but suddenly, someone rode their bike over to me, helping me escape. It was Giulia. "Ciao, cousin." I chuckled nervously. "Chiara?" Giulia asked. "But, how did you..." "Giulia, I really don't have time to explain my life story right now, Ercole's about to kill Alberto and Luca, and most likely me too." I interrupted. "ANDIAMO!"

Giulia followed Ercole as we passed some other competitors, who were frightened by me, and possibly Alberto and Luca. I was kinda nervous that Giulia was gonna hurl. "We're almost caught up to him!" I exclaimed. Out of nowhere, we saw the boys come back on the track. "You should've left when I told you!" Ercole shouted, standing on his bike. "Now I gotta kill some sea monsters!" "So long, evil empire of injustice." Giulia said, bumping into Ercole's bike, causing him, Giulia and I to fall off our bikes. "No!" Luca cried. "Giulia, Chiara!" Alberto shouted as Luca hit the brakes so they can check on us. "Mostri marini!" Massimo gasped, grabbing a harpoon, preparing to kill us. "Chiara, Giulia, are you alright?" Luca asked. "Yeah, yeah, I'm okay." Giulia replied. "Me too." I added as Alberto and Luca helped me and Giulia off the ground. "Thanks, guys." Massimo came up to us, until he saw his daughter. "Giulietta?" He asked. "Papá, I..." Giulia started, but my uncle looked at us and didn't move. Ercole pushed his way through the crowd with his harpoon ready to go. "I saw them first, the reward is mine!" Ercole exclaimed. "We're not afraid of you!" Luca snapped. "No, but we're afraid of you." Ercole said. "Everyone is horrified by your disgusted by you, because you are monsters." "Stop!" I exclaimed. "They're not monsters!" "You're one to talk, sea monster." Ercole insults. "You know, if my dad didn't meet a sea monster, I wouldn't be standing here." I grunted. "That sea monster he met was my mother!" The town gasped. "Well, if they're not monsters, who are they, then?" Ercole asked. "I know who they are." Massimo replied. "They are Luca, Alberto, and my niece, Chiara, and they're the winners!" "What?" Luca and Alberto asked. "They can't be the winners, they're not even people!" Ercole complained. "Jokes on you, I'm a hybrid." I teased. "Signora Marsigliese?" Massimo asked, showing Luca and Alberto's bike crossing the finish line. "Technically, legally, yes, they won." She replied. "We won?" Alberto asked. "Who cares if they won, they're sea monsters!" Ercole continued. Massimo signaled his team to leave us alone. We grabbed Ercole's harpoon and snapped it in half. He asked his followers to give him another one, but they both refused and threw him in the fountain. "It's over, the reign of terror is over!" Giulia cheered. "Luca!" Two sea monsters called, they must've been his parents. "You had us worried half to death, and you must never do that again!" His mother shouted. "And you raced your little tail off and kicked so much human butt, and I'm so proud of you, and I am so mad at you!" "I love you, Mom." Luca replied. "Son." His father said, hugging Luca and his wife. Luca's mom smiled at us and we did the same. "Signore e signori, the winners of this year's Portorosso Cup, The Underdogs!" Signora Marsigliese announced. "Congratulations, guys!" I exclaimed, hugging both of them and celebrating.

After the race, we immediately went to buy the Vespa for Alberto and Luca. "Feast your eyes on the greatest Vespa the world has ever seen!" Alberto exclaimed. "Vespa a la Reddie!" I added. All of a sudden, the Vespa broke down a bit. "Underdogs Forever!" Luca shouted. I laughed as Alberto wore the trophy on his head. "So, where will you go first?" Giulia asked. "We're gonna stick around here for a bit." Alberto explains. "We gotta fix this thing up before we take it across the entire Earth." "Okay, just don't forget to pack." I reminded him, but I guess I reminded Giulia as well. "Santo gorgonzolo, I need to pack, for school!" Giulia panicked. "Oh yeah, school." Luca sighed. "You're gonna learn so much." "I can leave you a few books." Giulia suggested. "You can?" Luca asked, helping Giulia. "C'mon, guys!" "So, I know my cousin already asked this, but, where are you gonna take ol' Reddie here?" I asked. "I know just the place." Alberto replied. "Do you wanna come with me?"