Where's Ferb?

Cezille07

A/N: Apparently, I've got my "I strictly only write for Monster Allergy" policy scrapped because I found a new little show to obsess over. Sorry! Well, not really. Currently, I am just obsessing over Perry the Platypus. Something must be wrong with me for being in love with a platypus. But at least I know what to do today and the short remnants of my summer! ;D

Disclaimer: I own nothing of this awesome franchise.

Chapter 1. Phineas the Frantic.

Candace was on the phone with Stacy that Thursday morning she wished were ordinary. But the first evidence of something fishy appeared way before she awoke.

Phineas was, as usual, up much earlier than his sister. He greeted the sun on his way downstairs for breakfast, and proceeded to his spot under the backyard tree.

That was how Isabella found him two hours later.

"Hey Phineas!" she beamed, letting herself in through the fence. "You wouldn't believe what Buford and Baljeet are doing right now. They were reading through evil scientists' magazines. Said they wanted to keep updated on the tech news. It's not like evil scientists are the only clever inventors in Danville," she winked, taking the spot next to him. "So, whatcha doin'?"

Phineas looked at her blankly. "Well, to be honest, I don't know," he sighed, stroking Perry who was napping beside him.

"That's kind of odd." She looked at Perry. She found a cookie that was in her pocket, nudged the platypus awake, and fed it to him. "But you'll get to it, and I'd always be glad to help, whatever it is you decide."

"Thanks, but I'm not getting anything so far. Isabella, do you ever get the feeling that something different is going on today? Something not normal?"

"Well, not normal is just your expertise," she chuckled. "Hmm, say, where's Ferb? You're always together I'm not used to seeing just you, or just him."

"...Ferb?"

Ferb wasn't in the next bed waking up the same time he did. The sun was boring. The cereal buffet in the kitchen was silent and empty.

"Ferb!" Phineas jumped to his feet and ran in a circle before falling seated again. "Ferb! Where's Ferb—"

"WILL YOU PIPE IT DOWN OVER THERE? I'M TRYING TO HAVE A PHONE CALL!" yelled Candace from her room window.

"Candace," Isabella asked, "have you seen your brother?"

"Phineas is right there—"

"I meant your other brother."

Candace stopped. "Uhm, Stacy, I'll have to call you back," she said in a low voice and flipped her pink cellphone closed. She came out of the back door within a minute. "So where is Ferb?"

Phineas exhaled, hugging his knees. "He's been gone the whole morning, and I didn't even realize it!"

"Just chill for a moment, you're freaking out!"

"It's not his fault, Candace," said Isabella, looking grave. She had her right hand checking Phineas' pulse, and her other hand had whipped out the Fireside Girls' Manual. "Ferb's disappearance might have triggered some form of clinical depression—"

"Whoa whoa whoa, depression?" Candace snickered. "This could actually be the break I've been waiting for! With our little step bro out of the way and Phineas in a mental state, this'll finally be the antics-free day summer promised!"

"I don't think this is the right time for that," spat Isabella, her brows furrowed. "I'm sorry to say this but you say 'step bro' like Ferb isn't really family to you."

"And I'm sorry to say this but his arrival really did fuel every summer's headache. I remember the days when it was just me, mom, and little Phineas, way before she met and fell in love with dad and his son—"

"Candace!" Isabella finally yelled, before looking worriedly at Phineas.

"Those were the days," he agreed languidly. The girls exchanged looks. "But what neither of you seem to understand is that Ferb isn't simply a brother or a best friend to me. I'll figure something out? I'll know what to do? You're right, Candace, it's always because Ferb was with me! We're a team, two halves of the same whole. In fact I can't remember life before or without Ferb. Like twins, only closer."

His older sister gave a sigh of surrender. "I know that. Just...hang on." She fished for her cellphone in her skirt pocket and dialled a number. "Mom? Where are you?"

"I'm at the spa. What is it?" Linda said from the other end.

"The spa? Uhh, is Ferb with you?"

"No, dear."

"Do you know where he is?"

"Sorry, honey, I don't know."

"Ugh, not helping!" cried Candace as she hung up. "Lemme try Dad." She tried his number. They all heard about ten rings before the busy tone sounded distinctly. "That's it! Something's really off about this Ferb business. Isabella, I know what we're gonna do today," she smirked. Phineas didn't so much as respond. "We need to get to the bottom of this. Round up your Fireside girls and we'll start a search team."

"Someone has to keep Phineas company while we're gone."

"There's always Perry—huh? Wh-where is he?"

They all scanned the area, but the platypus was nowhere to be seen.

Perry took a twentieth last look at Phineas, and this time, he finally tugged on the peculiarly large blade of grass growing beneath the garden hose. The earth opened neatly above a square meter of slide that tunnelled deep underground into his office. A twenty-first last look. He simply couldn't bring himself to work on Doofenshmirtz when Phineas, and likely Ferb as well in this case, needed him. But the faint light of his computer watch, masked by a patch of synthetic fiber in the same shade of his fur, blinked incessantly. Monogram, Perry thought irritably as he jumped into the slide, this had better be important!