Disclaimer: I do not own anything except the idea for this fanfic (Which was inspired by a part of an episode of P&F.) and Polly the Parrot.
The guilt of the platypus.
A turquoise platypus walks the grounds of a cemetery. The sun was shinning down on all the graves and the ground was almost hot against his webbed feet. His beaver tail was dragging on the grass. Luckily his dark brown fedora was keeping his head cool. He looked down with a sad frown on his face, a tear coming down his furry cheek. He looked up only to see he had arrived to where he was supposed to be, chairs lined up in an orderly manner in front of a casket with flowers around it. More tears flowed when he saw the casket, knowing it was there because of him! "Why couldn't that be me in there?" He thought to himself. He approached the chairs and saw other animals in fedoras, different shades of brown on the hats. No two animals were alike either, all different species. The platypus walked down an aisle made by the groups of chairs. He glanced up to see that the other animals were sad as well, some of them were crying, others had their hats off as a sign of respect. As the platypus was walking he saw a small panda with his light brown fedora off, the panda gave him an angry look. The platypus looked away, he knew he deserved every bit of that look he got, he was angry with himself too. He just continued walking, he walked up to the casket. There were some steps in front of it so that if smaller animals wanted to see what was in it, they could. His legs were shaking as he walked up those three steps, he slowly peered into the casket, he saw what looked like a turkey, it had been stripped of feathers, its head was gone, feet were gone. In fact it looked like it would have been prepared to cook. Laying near its neck, where its head would have been, was a tan fedora. A tear from the Platypus fell on the turkey. "... Agent T... Terry... I'm sorry... Terry didn't even die heroically. He at least deserved the death of a hero, but he didn't even get that." He thought. The platypus' hands shook as he grasped his own fedora and removed it to respect his fallen co-worker and friend.
"A-... Agent P?" Asked a slightly high pitched, young sounding male voice from behind him.
He turned around, startled, but relaxed to see that it was only Carl, the unpaid intern. The young man was dressed in an all black suit, even the frames of his glasses were black.
"I-... I'm sorry Perry, but we have to start the service... Please..." He motioned over to the chairs "take your seat."
Perry nodded and went over to an empty seat in the very front and he sat down, tears still in his eyes while folding his fedora tightly in his hands.
Then an older man wearing all army clothes came up to the casket. He faced all the animals.
The animals and Carl saluted him.
"At ease, agents..." Said Major Monogram "You too Carl..." He said, looking at Carl.
They all stopped saluting.
The Major cleared his throat and looked right at all the agents "Death... It happens to all of us... But to have an agent die in such a horrid manner while on duty is a tragedy... And he didn't even die while fighting the man he was set out to stop..."
As his leader spoke, it felt like sharp daggers were stabbing right into Perry's heart. The platypus couldn't look the Major in the eye as he spoke.
"Terrance or Terry or even Agent T as some of you know him as was an astounding agent. One of the best bird agents we've ever had. He fought with honor, bravery and saved many lives..." The Major had to stop speaking for a few seconds to wipe a tear from his eye "There's no replacing that kind of agent. He was one of a kind. But we must not look at his death with sadness, but rather as a chance to pave the way for a new agent to take on his nemesis, and to prove that no matter what evil may throw at us that we can bounce back and throw something harder and heavier at it!" The Major raised a fist in the air to make a bigger statement.
The agents sounded out with their cheers. Perry chattered as his cheer.
The Major lowered his fist and the animals quieted down. "Now would anyone like to say a few words before we give Agent T a proper burial?"
Perry stood and chattered to get Major Monogram's attention.
"Yes, Agent P... You may speak..." Said the Major as he got out of his spot and stepped to the side next to Carl.
Perry walked over to the casket and faced his co-workers.
"Polly, translate for us please." Carl said as he looked towards a parrot with a fedora on.
"Alright Carl." Said the parrot with a squawk and a whistle. She flew off the back of her chair and landed on Perry's shoulder She squawked and whistled a few times to him.
Perry chattered and nodded.
Polly whistled once more.
Perry looked to his co-workers and started chattering.
"Major Monogram, Carl and my fellow agents. I want to express my deepest regrets for what happen to Terry." Polly said as she translated Perry's chattering.
Perry paused for a moment, gathering himself. He then continued with more chattering.
"It was my fault for what happen to him, and it is with a heavy heart that I..." Polly translated, but stopped and looked at Perry, she squawked and whistled a few times to him.
Perry chattered and nodded to her with a serious look in his eyes.
Polly nodded and continued "Resign from the O.W.C.A."
The two humans gasped, the rest of the agents gasped, except for Peter the panda who applauded.
Perry looked at Peter and chattered with anger in his eyes.
"Oh my... I'm not translating that, not even for a cracker..." Said Polly.
Major Monogram rushed over to Perry "Agent P! You can't be serious! Resigning? Why!"
Perry sighed sadly, looking at the ground he chattered a few times.
"I can't work for an organization that I'm a danger to..." Polly translated.
Perry chattered again after a short pause.
"If I can't protect one co-worker, what good am I to this place?" Polly said with a squawk.
"You're leaving to protect your co-workers?" Asked the Major.
Perry looked up at him and nodded. He chattered.
"I'll still fight to protect the Tri-state area and my family..." Said Polly.
Perry sighed and continued chattering.
"I just need time away from this place..." Translated Polly.
Perry's eyes filled with tears as he got out a few more chatters.
"There's just too much pain now..." Polly translated.
Perry held up his fedora to Major Monogram.
"No Agent P! I can't accept your uniform." Said the Major.
Perry started to walk down the aisle, he stopped by a chair and chattered at Polly.
She got off of him and landed on the back of the chair.
Perry continued walking and he didn't look back as he exited the cemetery. He held his fedora in front of him and after a few moments he put it on, a propeller came out of the top of the hat and spun, Perry hung onto his fedora and it lifted him into the air. He took one last look at the O.W.C.A building before flying away.
The comfort of a nemesis.