Chapter 1

A/N: Four years have passed since the original series, so here's a reference list of ages for all the characters in this story:

Vanessa- 20

Jeremy- 20

Candace- 19

Ferb- 16

Phineas- 15

Isabella- 15

Baljeet- 15

Buford- 15

Also, I do not own Phineas and Ferb. Le duh. ^_^

The day was a hot one in Danville, and stepbrothers Phineas and Ferb had been lazing inside the house since dawn. Linda and Lawrence were off at an antique show in Ohio for the next week, leaving the two teenagers to their own devices, alone in the house.

"So Ferb," Phineas said from his place outstretched on the couch. "What should we do today?"

Ferb shrugged and changed the channel on the TV from where he was sitting on the floor in front of the couch.

"We've done nothing but watch TV all week. We should at least do something."

The two boys flinched when they heard banging around upstairs, a yell of frustration, and more banging.

"Candace is up," Ferb said matter-of-factly and changed the channel again.

Candace had been home for three weeks for her summer break from college, and while hiking with Jeremy the week before she had somehow broken her leg in two places (she kept insisting that Suzie had something to do with it). While her boyfriend had been over a couple of times to take care of her, Phineas and Ferb had to do a majority of the work since Candace couldn't leave the house.

"You know you're supposed to be using your crutches!" Phineas said when he saw his sister clunking down the stairs, gripping tight to the railing. He was answered with a scowl from the older redhead, who proceeded into the kitchen without another word.

Ferb changed the channel again, this time to an animal show about baby birds. Phineas yawned.

"Why don't you guys go build a spaceship to Pluto or something? I want to watch The Real Housewives of the Tri-State Area." Candace called from the kitchen table. She stuffed a spoonful of cereal into her mouth after asking.

"We already did that two years ago," Phineas answered unenthusiastically.

"What about dig a tunnel to the center of the Earth?" she insisted.

"Been there."

"Build your own metropolis?"

"Done that."

"Save the world?"

"You were there for that one."

"Well, why don't you go do something?"

"I'm all out of ideas," Phineas answered. "Ferb is too." The green-haired teen nodded in agreement.

Candace shrugged. "Whatever."

The quiet house was interrupted by a bright blue flash and a crash outside. Phineas sat up straight and stared at the glass door. He looked at Ferb, as if to ask if he had anything to do with the strange sound, but the older teen shook his head. The two boys scrambled up and ran outside.

The backyard looked basically undisturbed, empty save the large tree in the center. Phineas scoured the ground, until he saw a tiny burnt area of grass towards the edge of the yard. There, he saw a small green crystal lodged into the earth. Ferb reached out to grab it, and pulled on it. The gem came out of the ground, but was revealed to be attached to a long rod. The two teens were immediately taken by the strangeness of the object that basically looked like a branch from the tree except for the dark green gem on the top.

"I wonder what this does," Phineas whispered, running his hand down the odd wood. Suddenly, he looked over his shoulder at Ferb, a determined glint in his eye.

"Hey Ferb," he managed, trying to maintain his excitement as a grin slowly crept across his face, "I know what we're going to do today."