Author's Note: Finally got the happy ending up. I hope it doesn't ruin it for anybody. If it does, sorry...
Perry watched the screen with an intensity he usually reserved for his missions. Like everyone else in Danville, he knew of Isabella's crush. He was certain that she would end up being Isabella Flynn one day. That is, if she survived the effects of the Nightmare-Inator. With the boys on the job, he told himself, she would be fine.
He focused on the screen. His gaze turned to one of horror as he watched Isabella impale herself on a sword. That's when what remained of the scene began to fade. With alarm, he chattered as loudly as he could.
Phineas instantly was at Isabella's side. "Is she-?"
Perry chattered again, hoping the boys had the machine complete.
"Ferb, is it done? Isabella is fading, fast!"
Ferb attached a covering to the machine as he answered: "It's finished. But I don't know if it will work. We've never done anything like this before and I was going to run some tests before-"
"Ferb, we don't have time for tests!"
"I KNOW!" Phineas hesitated and Ferb sighed. "Sorry bro. I'm worried about her to. She's my friend, too, remember?"
Phineas nodded. With an unspoken message, the two brothers moved the machine closer to Isabella and hooked her up.
"Ready, Phineas?" Phineas nodded again and Ferb pulled the switch.
Isabella felt her life leaving her through the hole that her heart had left behind. Everything faded to black. She could hear, not see, her life flying by her. "Hey Phineas!" "Thanks, Isabella!" "I reckon herding cattle ain't for city folk." "You realize there's an 'M' in 'Time Machine?'" "You had me at our grandchildren…" "Don't be silly, Isabella! I took into account your cuteness…" "I need a new pencil…" "Isabella, you're the best!"
More and more voices flashed in and out of her mind, but one remained; Phineas. And now he was gone. She would never again gaze into those stunning blue eyes of his, never hear his optimistic "I know what we're gonna do today!"
Perhaps she would, in whatever comes after death. She could almost hear him now…
"Ferb, its gotta work! She can't die!" As she continued to fade, she felt a tug, pulling her back into the painful world. As she resisted, she wondered where she had heard Phineas say that before.
Suddenly, standing before her, was Phineas. "Isabella, you can't die! I- I love you!" He pulled her frail body close and kissed her! She tried to return it, but she was unable to move.
Then he was gone, like he had never been. But if he had come and gone like that, none of this could be real.
Upon the realization that this was a dream, she felt her heart heal and she forced herself to awaken.
The darkness around Isabella dissipated and color returned to her to her skin. Then, with a gasp, she woke up.
"Isabella!" Phineas had his arms around her at once, much to her surprise.
"Phineas, wha- what are you doing? What happened?"
Phineas pulled back, but kept his arms around her. "You were trapped in a nightmare. It was so bad that you started to die."
Isabella felt faint as she realized she had nearly died because she thought she had lost Phineas. "But, how did- Why didn't I-"
Ferb come up beside the two and laid a hand on her shoulder. "We built something to wake you up."
Isabella grabbed both the boys into a large hug. "Thank you guys!"
The three remained in the hug until Candace came rushing in the backyard. "Okay, you two, I know-" She stopped as she witnessed the hug. "What did I miss?"
The three separated and Isabella was the first to speak up. "I was stuck in a nightmare and they built a machine that woke me up!"
Candace blinked, opened her mouth, blinked again, then said, "I guess… I'll let you off the hook. This time." With that, she turned around and walked inside.
Isabella turned to Phineas. "I should probably go. My mom will be wondering why I'm taking so long. I'll see you tomorrow!" With a wave, she walked out of the backyard.
Once Isabella woke up, Perry slipped away. He went back into his lair where, to his surprise, he saw both Carl and Doof on the screen.
"So you're telling me my –Inator zapped a little girl?"
"Well, that's what our security footage shows." They failed to notice Perry watching them.
Doof put a hand thoughtfully on his chin. "You know, I can't say that I like the idea of a child getting hit by my –Inators. At least, by one that I didn't mean for children. I mean, I may be evil, but I'm not cruel."
Perry blinked in surprise and the slight movement alerted his presence to the two humans.
"Perry the Platypus! Hey, I'm sorry about today. I think, for a while, I'm going to focus my evil in a different direction. At least, until I know my –Inators do only what I want them to. You know, since I apparently nearly killed a little girl by accident."
Perry smiled slightly and chattered. It was great to see his nemesis wasn't all that bad.
After Isabella left, Phineas and Ferb grabbed the dream reader and placed it in storage. "Now, what about the other machine, Ferb? I mean, that hunk of junk didn't even work!"
Ferb grinned at his brother. When Phineas looked to see Ferb's answer, he noticed the grin.
"Ferb! You won't tell her, will you? I want to tell her myself."
Ferb's grin widened, but he nodded. Then he grabbed one side of the machine and began dragging it to the trash can.
Phineas ran to help him out, but he was only partially paying attention. After all, after what he had done, Isabella wouldn't leave his mind. He knew he would have to be the one to tell her.
He also knew it would have to be sooner rather than later, if not for her sake, then for his own. He had realized he loved her. He couldn't believe it had taken a near death experience to realize it, but realize it he had.
And he had acted on it. He knew that Ferb would probably never let him live it down, but he didn't care. After all, it had saved her. Their inventing skills had failed them, but this simple act had saved her.
It seemed a bit farfetched, but the whole situation was hardly normal. One act had saved her. One act had shown his love. It had done all that and more.
Who knew one kiss could do so much?
There we go. Yes, I am ending it on that note. I will be posting this as complete, but I might make an alternate, Shakespearean ending. It depends on if I get enough reviews, or I just feel like it. Hope you enjoyed the story!