Disclaimer: Phineas and Ferb and all characters associated with Phineas and Ferb are the intellectual property of Dan Povenmire, Jeff "Swampy" Marsh and Disney.

The story, characters, and incidents portrayed are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased) or events is intended or should be inferred. Please review this story to let me know what can be improved or revised. Thank you.

Perry

Exhausted. That's what I've been for the past six years. Almost nothing but that. I suppose it's to be expected though. That's what happens when all you do is work. And my job is particularly exhausting. Then again, I do enjoy it from time to time, even if it is incredibly monotonous.

I don't think I've ever looked more forward to something in my life. Okay, that's not true, but this is easily in my top fives. I think my favorite thing that's ever happened to me was getting to spend an entire day with Phineas and Ferb. I almost never get to do that.

But now I'm finally on vacation! I haven't had a proper one ever. The closest thing I've ever had to one was a short trip to Africa, but that had been interrupted before it started, and I only got to take a few days of it after literally begging for it. It's different this time though!

This time it's been scheduled and planned out and there is nothing Major Monogram could do to stop me! I had gone above him for once, taking my request to the upper echelons of the O.W.C.A.. I got my request approved and now I have an entire month to myself. No O.W.C.A., no Doofenshmirtz, no Candace yelling at me for no reason. Sure, I'm gonna miss Phineas and Ferb, but I can last a month without seeing them, surely. And if I can't stand it, I'll just go home and spend the rest of my vacation with them.

I had gotten to California late yesterday. It had been incredibly stressful trying to get things packed with Phineas and Ferb constantly running around. If they'd caught me… I don't want to think about it. More than once, I could've sworn Phineas had caught me, but each time I realized that he hadn't. It was quite terrifying, actually.

Major Monogram had insisted that I wear clothing while I'm on vacation. Why, though, I'm not totally sure. He probably doesn't want me to accidentally blow my cover… while nowhere near the O.W.C.A.. I think he's just paranoid.

But even though he couldn't interrupt my vacation or send me on mission, he could order me to do this. So I'm wearing clothes. Ugh.

The plane had landed around five in the evening. Being as it was an O.W.C.A. jet, I didn't have to deal with any airport security or such. I was immediately shown to a cab and after that I was permitted to do whatever I wanted.

I didn't want to do anything yesterday. I was exhausted from all the running around while trying to get packed and from the plane ride. So I'd gone to my hotel, went up to my reserved room, and promptly fell asleep. Looking about the room now, I realize that I hadn't even bothered to undress or unpack. I'm glad I'm alone. That would've been embarrassing.

I force myself to get out of bed and look at the clock. It's barely five in the morning. So even though I'd fallen asleep around six, I'd still slept for almost eleven hours? Geez, the jet lag is really hitting me hard.

I unpack and put my clothes in one of the drawers. I also strip the clothes I'm wearing off of me. I then decide to go ahead and groom myself in the restroom. I'd brought multiple products with me. I don't normally get to groom myself, as I have to maintain my cover as a mindless animal for my owners. But I can now, since I'll have tons of time to myself and by the time I get back to them, my fur will have grown back and all of the product will be off of me.

I cut my hair down a certain way that leaves my neck easily visible, instead of being hidden by a mess of fur. Even if none of this is going to be seen by anyone because of my clothing, it doesn't matter. It makes me feel better.

I take a shower to get the excess cut fur off of myself and clean myself with a blueberry scented shampoo. After a few minutes of carefully scrubbing myself down, I get out and meticulously dry off.

Remembering what I'm doing tonight, I take out some temp black hair dye. I grab a tuft of fur on the top of my head and highlight my fur with it. I look at myself in the mirror and smile, satisfied. I'd never done something even somewhat similar to this. Sure, the dye could be easily washed out, but that isn't the point. It makes me feel like I'm finally breaking away from my routine. I'm doing something I've never done before. It's gonna be fun.

I walk out of the restroom and look at the clock. It's almost six o'clock. The breakfast buffet will be open in a few minutes. I almost walk out, but quickly realize that I'm not dressed. I throw a plain white shirt over my head and somehow manage to fit some pants onto myself. The jeans had had to be specially made to fit on my legs.

I almost walk out of the room again, but then realize that I don't have my room key. I run over to the desk and put it in my pants pocket. For good measure, I grab my wallet, too, just in case. Now. Now I'm ready for breakfast. I walk out of the room, close it behind myself and rush over to the elevator.

About a minute later, I walk into the main room and go over to the buffet. It's just being set out, and the smell of the freshly cooked bacon is just calling my name. I haven't had something like this in a long time, since the Flynn-Fletchers rarely give me human food. Sure, I could technically get it from the O.W.C.A. cafeteria, but where's the fun in that? If I wait for opportunities like this, then it makes them all the more special.

As I approach the buffet, I realize that I did in fact forget something: my notepad and pen. Without them, I won't be able to communicate what I want. And seeing as I'm too small to reach the food by myself, that'll pose a problem.

At the same time though, I'm starving. I haven't eaten since lunch yesterday, and I don't want to wait another minute. Going back to my room to retrieve them would just irk me.

I walk up to the lady setting out the food and chatter at her to get attention. She looks around for a second, then shrugs and goes back to work. I chatter again, and this time she looks down and sees me. Her eyes widen in shock. I don't blame her, considering I'm an anthropomorphic platypus.

I quickly sign at her that I want some help getting food, and this only further shocks her. My guess is she doesn't know sign language, seeing as the first thing I had signed was that yes, I am a platypus, and yes, I am walking on my hind legs.

I gaze up at her expectantly, hoping beyond hope that she doesn't faint. The last thing I need is a scene.

I don't bother signing at her anymore. I instead just open my mouth, point into it, then point at the counter. Surely that would be easy to understand.

She looks at the counter, then back down at me, blinking several times.

"Do you… want food…?" she asks me hesitantly, her voice trembling. She's clearly terrified.

I nod my head expectantly and pull out my room's cardkey to prove that I'm a guest. I rub my stomach to try and emphasize the fact that I'm starving. I even give a small sigh to stress it.

She picks up a plate, and I quickly begin pointing at the different foods that I want. After she's gotten me everything I want, she hands me the plate along with a small cup of cranberry juice. I give a small bow to show my thanks then walk away to a table.

I quickly begin to scarf down my food. After a few minutes, I quickly remember why I rarely eat human food: it doesn't tend to agree with my stomachless intestines. Whatever, I'll take something for it in a few; right now, I want to properly gorge myself.

I finish my food then sip at my juice. Delicious. I quickly finish it, leave a tip, then rush back up to my room. I find my stomach medicine and swallow a pill with a bottle of water. I glance at the clock to see that it isn't even eight yet. Good, that gives me more than twelve hours before my evening plans to look around the city.

I put on a nicer shirt and a baseball cap before I leave the hotel. I would love to check out the main tourist attractions in Los Angeles, but most of them don't allow animals in. So instead of going to the human attractions, I instead decide to head straight for the underground animal half of the city.

It isn't actually underground, it's just off the radar, unknown to most humans, as it should be. It's pretty convenient, since the idea of animals with human like intelligence freaks most humans out, as was the case in the hotel earlier.

I don't know how long I spent walking around just looking at stuff and taking pictures. I would've been shopping and looking for souvenirs, but I'm gonna do that tomorrow. Today, I'm exploring.

I walk up to a small water fountain with a statue of a dog at the top of it and snap a photo. After getting in another angle, I take another. I don't know what about it I like so much, I just do. Maybe I can show it to Pinky when I get back.

Thinking that gives me a small feeling of sadness. He had been supposed to come with me. But at the last minute, he found himself going on a trip with his host family. I was happy for him, sure, but I still wish I hadn't come alone. It's fine, all things considered. He'll probably be able to make it to the second half of the trip.

The problem is that we had gotten our tickets for everything in advance. Our hotels and all of the other events were already scheduled for both of us.

I sigh and walk away from the fountain. Maybe I could try and find someone to go to some of the events with me. Who knows, maybe it'll help me make a connection outside of the O.W.C.A.. The last time that had happened, it had lasted less than a day. And even then, all I'd done throughout that day was try to protect Phineas and Ferb, even if they weren't completely aware of everything I'd been doing.

After a while, I look at my watch. It's time for lunch. I head off to the food court section of the small section of the city. I'm not sure I'm gonna be able find something to eat for myself, being as I am a platypus. Maybe I could find a place with hedgehog food, which would be a close second.

As I head off to the food court, I see an advertisement for what I'm going to tonight. I stop and smile at it, excited. I've never been to one before, and quite frankly, I'm stoked. I've been looking forward to this for months at this point.

"Do you like them, too?" a voice comes from behind me.

I yelp and turn to it. Sure enough, my ear slits had not deceived me. The voice I'd heard was indeed a platypus chatter. A smaller platypus is standing behind me looking up at the poster as well, a certain look in her eye.

"Yeah, love 'em, actually," I answer. I turn back to the poster.

She sighs. "Yeah. I've listened to them my whole life. I've never been able to see them live, though. Are you going?"

Perfect! I think. I might not have to go alone! Sorry, Pinks.

"Actually, yeah. I was originally going to go with a friend of mine tonight," I say. "We bought our tickets in advance, but he had somewhere else to be. Wanna come with?"

She looks startled by the sudden offer. I don't blame her. We don't even know each other's names and I'm asking her if she wanted to spend the evening with me.

"I… I don't know…" she mutters, looking back up at the poster.

I shrug. "It's not a problem. Like I said, he isn't going to be able to make it anyways. Besides, it doesn't start 'til nine. That gives us plenty of time to get to know each other."

"I… I don't know if I can…"

My heart starts to sink a little. I should've known it wouldn't be too easy. I shrug again and try to hide my disappointment. I really don't want to go alone. Not with an extra ticket on me. "My name's Perry, by the way," I say, reaching my paw out.

"I'm Diana," she says, taking my paw in hers.

I smile at her. "I really would like it if you could go. I don't want to show up with an extra ticket and look like a loser." I chuckle a little at that.

She furrows her brow at me. "You mean… you weren't asking me out on a date?"

I raise my eyebrows at her. I hadn't thought of it that way. I just don't wanted to go alone. I'd planned this trip with someone. It wouldn't be as much fun alone. "I mean, I hadn't thought of it like that…"

She smirks and shakes her head. "I'll consider it…." I then distinctly hear her intestines growling.

"You hungry? I was about to go and get lunch, but I'm not sure what the restaurants here have. Any suggestions?"

She seems to perk up at that suggestion. "Yes, I am! But…" she stops suddenly, a sour look crossing her face. I furrow my brow at her, silently asking what's wrong. "I don't have any money…"

I shrug my shoulders again. "That's fine. I've got enough money for two people. Like I said, I'd been planning to go with someone else. Come on, lead the way!"