Author's Note:

Hello everyone and welcome to a new series!

Imaginary Isabella has recently fallen out of popularity and I needed a break from that story anyway. I can't keep up the rapid updates that I had before.

The plot is still not fully developed for this story, so the next chapter won't come for a long time. This is just a teaser/prologue to see if people are interested in this idea. This takes place 8 years after the end of the series, placing everyone at around 17-18. A bit of warning though, this story is going to be dark and has more than a couple character deaths.

Oh, and I am absolutely horrible at writing emotional drama, so this whole chapter will sound extremely pretentious. I apologize in advance.

Anyway, here we go!

Update-October 5, 2018:

Due to the sudden death of interest in Imaginary Isabella and the unexpected new interest in this story, I've pushed up the date for chapter 1 to November of this year. Several edits were also made and the title was changed to Crimson Skies.


Isabella wiped sweat off her brow and let out a groan as she continued to tinker with the satellite's control panel. Although her wide range of skills as a fireside girl provided her with an aptitude in many skill sets, she wasn't the great Phineas or Ferb.

She sighed as she thought of the boy she loved. For 15 years, she had pursued him in search of affection and love. For 15 years, she had failed and now she was exhausted. Maybe it was time to move on…

She was so caught up in her thoughts that she missed the next swing and crushed her hand instead of the nail, resulting in a sharp scream of pain. Instantly, her friend was at her side.

"Are you okay chief?" Ginger asked.

Isabella hissed in pain, "You don't have to call me that. We all graduated as fireside girls 5 years ago."

"Oh come on," Ginger argued, "You'll always be our fearless leader!"

"It doesn't change the fact that I can never confront my greatest fear," she whispered.

"Are we seriously bringing this up again?" Ginger protested. "You have to show confidence in yourself! Remember what Gretchen told you a couple years ago? Just go for it! You better jump right into it. Tell that boy how you…"

"Okay! Okay!" Isabella interrupted, "No need for another spontaneous music number. I'll tell him tomorrow morning. Hopefully…"

"That's the spirit," Ginger cheered, before going back to work on another section of the control room.


"How are we doing Isabella?" Phineas asked from his position at the control panel. He and his brother were settled on Phineas' bed around the computer screen. Now that they were teenagers, their mother had given them a strict bedtime, especially after Candace left for college. Thankfully, the Flynn-Fletcher Bros still managed to find ways to make the most of their restless nights.

"Everything looks good so far," Isabella flashed a thumbs up. "There are just a few more modifications left that we need to make to the coding, and then the satellite should be fully functional again."

"Brilliant. I'm sorry we couldn't help, but you know, curfew."

"It's alright," Isabella responded chirpily. "At least Ginger is here with me!"

Ginger walked into view briefly to give a wave, before going back to work.

"Say, where's Perry?" Isabella asked, "Is he sleeping with you guys?"

"Oh no, he disappeared tonight," Phineas responded with a frown. "We don't really know where he went. Usually, he only disappears once a day."


"Ah ha! I got you now Perry the Platypus!" Doofenshmirtz exclaimed, "You've fallen right into my trap!"

Perry looked downward, unimpressed, and shot the evil scientist a frown.

"What? Don't give me that look. There's no way you're getting out of this. My plan is finally working!"

Perry rolled his eyes and simply advanced his king, knocking off one of Doofenshmirtz's black pieces with a smile.

"What? Oh come on I thought I had you!" the man protested, "I swear that was checkmate."

Perry shook his head. It wasn't even close.

"Ugh, well now I have to change my plan again. Hmm, now what do I do with this horse thingy again?"

Perry tried in vain to muffle his laughter. Playing his former nemesis was so easy sometimes.


"So Jeet, remind me why we're out here at midnight?" Buford said while crossing his arms.

"Well tonight is the perfect night for our astronomy project," Baljeet responded whilst adjusting his massive telescope. "The Blood Moon should be happening any minute now! It's a once in a lifetime opportunity."

"The what moon?" Buford cried.

"The Blood Moon. It's a really rare occurrence when the trajectory and orbit of the moon lines up perfectly with…"

The bully decided to cut into the boring explanation. "Just give it to me shorthand nerd. Why is it called the blood moon?"

Baljeet put his hands on his hips indignantly, "It's because the moon will appear completely red in the night sky."

"Oh. Now why didn't you just say that in the first place?"


"Alright the sensors and observation apparatuses are online," Isabella reported as she pulled the last switch. Soon, all the lights and systems in the control room burst to life. "All in an hours work."

"That's great, all we need is to set the propulsion turbines online and our work here should be done," Phineas responded eagerly.

"Uh guys, I hate to interrupt, but I think we have another problem," Ginger shouted nervously from her position at the window, "I'm seeing a massive asteroid headed for Earth at a rapid pace!"

"WHAT?!" came the instantaneous and loud response.

Isabella snatched up the phone that she had been streaming intergalactic with (courtesy of the Flynn-Fletcher Brothers) and brought it to the portside window. Just as Ginger had stated, a massive red tinted rock was hurtling towards them at an astonishing rate. Everyone's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as the saw the coming disaster.

"Ginger! What happened to the planetoid interceptor included in the ship's operating systems?"

"I can't get it installed until tomorrow," Ginger screamed, "We can't stop it!"

Isabella looked upon the impending doom with terror as the asteroid grew larger across her field of view. The red glow it was sending off became almost blinding in nature. She had studied astrology as a fireside girl and knew that an object of this magnitude would make the extinction of the dinosaurs look trivial. Yet there was no way for her to stop it.

Or so she thought.

If there's one thing the love of her life had taught her, it was that you could accomplish anything you put your mind to. Right now, there was an apocalypse coming to Earth, and she was in the position to stop it. She quickly straight her bow and put her figurative thinking cap on.

"We have to have some way to break it's course," she said frantically. "We need a large orbital object that can get in it's path in time. Large enough to hopefully shatter the asteroid, but small enough to get over there in time."

"Well…" Ginger began, but stopped almost immediately, a terrified look coming over her face.

"Ginger, do you have an idea?" Phineas prompted. "Hurry we're almost out of time!"

Ginger gave Isabella a somber look. Years of being her friend had taught Isabella the unspoken language that her teammates and friends shared with her. The idea hit her like a truck, but in her fear, she saw the merit, and bravery that her friend held within the simple plan. The formerly lead fireside girl hardened her expression, and took firm a firm grip of the ship's controls.

"Ginger, fire up the engines."

"Can you get out of the impact zone fast enough?" Phineas called, "It's too dangerous going close into the projectile's path."

Isabella gave Phineas a determined look that sent chills down his spine. He had seen that look only once before, back on the island of the summer solstice. It was the look that gave him hope, but now it only filled him with dread.

"Isabella!"

"Ginger, get out there and fire up the engines manually," Isabella said with determination, "And set a course for that asteroid."


"Ugh I cannot get these readings right," Baljeet cried in despair, "Something keeps interfering with the signal!"

"Uh huh, and what's that gotta do with me?" Buford lazed out on the blanket he had brought while Baljeet continued to mess with the telescope.

"Something's wrong," Baljeet responded, "The moon hasn't exited it's proper position and the red contrast is really blurring the view. This blood moon just won't end!"

"Wait, it's started?" Buford jumped up and tackled the boy aside as he attempted to peer into the lens.

"Maybe you should've stayed awake," Baljeet moaned with grass in his mouth.

"Well, I think I see the problem genius. Whatever that strange red glow is, it's being intensified by that weirdly large rock nearby."

"An asteroid!?" Baljeet shouted. He quickly shoved Buford aside, earning a sharp protest, before taking control once more. He swiftly angled it to the left slightly and caught sight of the massive object Buford was referencing.

"OH MY GOODNESS!"


"Isabella! I can't let you do this! There's no way to survive a direct impact!"

"I am well aware of the outcome Phineas," Isabella sighed sadly. "I never thought my time would come today, but I guess I can't control fate."

"That's awfully philosophical of you Isabella, but this is not the time for that!" Phineas protested. "This is too drastic a measure!"

Isabella took a deep breath and turned to face the boy she had grown up with into a man. She really wished that her last moments with him were spent with her in his arms and not over a monitor. She felt destiny had chosen this day for her, and yet she was still terrified by the prospect. She hid it well for Phineas' sake, but her façade was breaking over Phineas and Ferb's stricken faces.

"Ready for my last journey chief," Ginger called.

The young women instantly embraced and Isabella finally let a few tears shed from her eye as she embraced her last, and oldest member, of the troop.

"Good luck and may the light of your brave soul illuminate the stars forever."

"Poetic. A fitting send off," Ginger responded through her tears, "Catch you later, hopefully."

She snapped one last salute before leaping off into the vacuum of space. Isabella wiped the last bits of moisture from her eyes and took up her position at the helm.

"Isabella…is this the end?" Phineas asked softly. It was apparent that he had finally come to terms with her sacrifice. Isabella's heart broke at the sight of a hopeless and helpless Phineas. He was the one to live with the shattering consequences.

"Phineas, and Ferb. I'm sorry it had to end like this," she responded soothingly, "but this is where I must leave you. I just wanted to say…" she paused.

Did she really want to tell him now? At the end of the road? It would provide her with some satisfaction and closure, but what of Phineas? How would he cope with a massive revelation dropped on him without any warning or afterword. It was selfish, to grasp onto a man's heart only to tear it away from him, leaving nothing but pain. No, she would never hurt him like that.

"…that you'll always be my most treasured friend."

"Wait, Isabella!"

Warning! Collision imminent! Evasive maneuvers advised!

"Hold that thought Phineas," Isabella shouted as she darted towards the controls before flooring the accelerator, "I've got to finish this."

Isabella gritted her teeth and slowly the sound of Phineas and Ferb's voice tuned out from her ears. She could hear nothing but the sound of her heartbeat and the blood pumping through her veins. The looming asteroid came into view. Ginger was to the side, directing the massive engines with all their might towards the intended destination. Isabella closed her eyes as she tried to focus on the sound of Phineas' voice.

Your cuteness goes right down to your core!

Isabella, you're the best!

Well, that's perfect

Anything for you Isabella!

"I love you Isabella!"

Isabella smiled as her last thoughts of Phineas rushed through her mind. She didn't even feel or see anything as the asteroid came into full view. She never felt pain or terror, only peace.

Then, the darkness was replaced by a brilliant blue light, and Isabella Garcia Shapiro was wiped from existence.


A giant explosion rocked DEI as the shockwave knocked all the chess pieces out of position. Perry quickly jumped to his feet as a brown haired woman dashed through the doorway.

"Dad! What are you doing this time? It's one o clock in the…"

"Vanessa wait!" Doofenshmirtz cried.

Perry didn't even have time to look up as another, far more powerful explosion rocked the building and piece of red glowing debris shot through the roof like paper. The agent was knocked over the edge, but he could still hear Vanessa's pain filled scream and Doofenshmirtz's howl of fear. He curled up in a ball and braced for impact as the ground came up to meet his harsh decent.

There was a crash, a snap, and then nothing.


"No! No! No! this is terrible," Baljeet screamed. "Something's very wrong! The asteroid has somehow broken up in orbit, but the glow is even more intense than before! It's having absolutely immense effects on the fifth dimension of space."

"and what does that mean?" Buford demanded.

"It means that it's mere presence it tearing and bending our solar system apart. I have no idea what effect it's going to have on impact!"

"Well, we're about to find out, it's coming right now!" Buford shouted.

He snatched up the Indian teen and dove under cover just as the impact came. The resulting shockwave sent tremor right down to the earth's core. In an instant, red mist emerged from the impact site and fanned out over the Tri-State area, illuminating the night with an eerie red gleam. The two teens darted upward and took a look at the damage.

"Well, we're not dead," Buford remarked. "That's a good sign."

"Umm," Baljeet looked around for any potential damage, but something caught his eye and he pointed upward.

"Look!"

Buford followed his gesture and quickly found what Baljeet was looking at.

"Oh man!"

The pair watched in horrid fascination as the mist increased in density before fanning out, consuming everything outside the Tri-State Area with a vengeance. Soon, Baljeet and Buford were the only ones left on the outskirts of Danville not encased in a vicious red glow.

"May Brahma have mercy on our souls." Baljeet whispered.


"Vanessa! Vanessa!" Doofenshmirtz called, "Where are you sweetie?"

"Dad!" Vanessa called weakly, "I'm over *coughcough here…"

Heinz quickly made his way over and began tearing away at the piles of rubble. Eventually, after several torturous seconds, he unearthed his daughter. He was about to lend a hand, but when he laid eyes on her, something made him stop.

Encasing Vanessa, was a terrible red glow that seemed to cover every inch of her. She weakly raised her eyes to meet his, but there was no light left in them.

"Dad," she coughed, "I ca…can't breath."

"Hold on baby girl," Doofenshmirtz whispered as he got to his feet and quickly started to rush to his lab, "I'll save you! There has to be an inator in here somewhere."

The youngest Doofenshmirtz watched weakly as her father began to dash away, but soon the pain became even worse as the net's radiance increased ten fold.

"DAD!"

Doofenshmirtz was barely able to cast one last glance at her daughter in agony before her whole body seemed to fold in on itself and disappear with a burst of red.

"Vanessa! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"


"Isabella! Isabella! I love you! Come back!" Phineas frantically shouted as the connection broke. There was no response and Phineas collapsed on the bed in tears. He was unable to formulate a response as his brother swiftly brought him into a tight embrace. They silently shared their sorrow as a brilliant explosion rocked the night. Soon, the fiery red rocks of hell began to rain from the sky.

The Apocalypse had begun.


Infernaldawn1 presents:

CRIMSON SKIES

Coming November 2018