So, I felt like I needed yet another subplot in here, so I magically ended up with this chapter. It's a doozy.
Linda Flynn-Fletcher was just fine doing things on her own. She would often go to a supermarket on her lonesome or run off by herself to a library. Today, her trip was to a department store, then to a laundromat. It was as she emerged from there with the clothing of her three children that she had beared witness to something astounding - it appeared that while she was running errands individually, the entire Tri-State Area had been changed. Remodeled. Modernized. In fact, Linda discovered that she couldn't turn her head a single direction without facing some sort of large contraption, amusement park ride, or 3,000 story building. Confused but able to dismiss what she saw as none of her business, she loaded the clean clothes into the back of her sedan and headed home. To the mother, the mysterious construction projects were simply the beginning to a very interesting string of newfound cognizances.
"Oh. My gosh." Candace snapped up from her work at the sound of the front door opening. "Stacy. Mom's home. And- " she made sure everything was in place, and it was- "It's all still here! Let's move, this is it!"Candace rushed downstairs from her room and almost tripped down the flight, and did not notice that Stacy wasn't following, but she didn't care. The teen nearly threw herself over her mother, who was - Somehow! Finally! - here at the same time her brothers' inventions were. Yes, that's inventions, plural, with a 's.' Candace thought for sure she was dreaming. Everything was right there before the very eyes of her oblivious mother. Could it be? That wonderful moment where Phineas and Ferb would be busted? Not only that, but Vanessa, too - no, everyone involved in Operation: Carpe Diem - she could now consider conclusively, blah, blah, blah, precisely, etcetera, etcetera, busted. That day: Was it today?
Apparently so! "Mom, Mom, you're here!" Candace exclaimed, "I can't believe it! Did you see everything outside? Did ya? Come on - you saw everything out there, right? You know what all that is?"
"Woah there, Candace. What's going on? Why are you so excited?" Linda asked. She had to hold onto her daughter's wrists to keep her from doing something borderline dangerous in her enthusiasm.
"It's Phineas and Ferb! Don't you see what they did? Come on, let's go outside and you'll see it all. Quickly!" Candace urged her mother back out the front door where each Big Idea remained intact and in the same position it was moments before.
"Wait... Phineas and Ferb made all of this?" Linda finally asked. Candace was ecstatic. She asked the question! Now it needed answered:
"Yes! Everything I told you about, see? It's all right here! Look-" Candace turned her mother's head- "There's the rollercoaster, there's that giant fort, there's the cruise ship, a random stranger wearing Ferb's clothes..."
At this, the man turned and waved a friendly "Hi there!"
"Don't you understand? I've been trying to get you to see all summer long. Thanks for pulling through." And Candace squeezed her mom a little too tightly.
Linda, on the other hand, was not receiving the information well. "You mean - it all - all of it - you weren't - you're not - it was - but - wait, what?" She stuttered.
"Yes, Mom." Candace let go. "Now, riddle me this: How much trouble are they in? What are you going to do to them?"
"Trouble?" Linda questioned, "For making all of this? I - I don't know if that's necessary, Candace. What about this is so wrong?"
"Wait, you don't see any way a couple of little kids can hurt themselves with these things? See that? That's a rocket engine, Mom. You have to put a stop to this."
"Well, I guess you're right... I just don't believe it. Where are they now? I want to have a word with them. Immediately." And now Linda was angry. Her sons had actually done what Candace had claimed they had, and all without her permission. Or money. Wait, how were they able to even get that much money?
"They're on their way now."
"Okay... Candace, don't you have homework to do? Why don't you go finish that? And don't worry. I'll make sure the boys get what they deserve. Just finish your project. It's getting late."
Candace smiled. "Alright," she said, "But can you sign something for me?"
"Sure, Candace. I'll meet you inside in a few."
After a few, the teen was busy doing her homework and her mom had collected herself enough to wander back inside. Meanwhile, Perry was having a bit of a difficult time getting a 5-foot-long funhouse mirror through a hole in the living room wall that leads to his lair. He had disabled the wind that would normally pull anything into it so that he could safely retrieve his prize. However, it was just a little bigger than Perry anticipated.
He just about had it through when two things happened: One, the frame was caught in the hole and was suddenly in a very delicate position. Any push or pull in the wrong place and the entire thing would shatter. And two, Linda had chosen that moment to walk curiously into the room.
Abandoning the mirror and leaving it hanging awkwardly out above the couch, Perry took his chances and fled behind the piece of furniture. He watched in horror as the woman gasped, "What the peanut butter!?" At her twisted image reflected by the mirror, then dropped to the ground in shock. Eyes widening, Perry ran to her side to make sure his mom - he considered her that - was okay. And the platypus was relieved beyond belief that she was. She had simply fainted out of shock after seeing one too many strange happenings.
Making sure his surroundings were vacant of any more people, Perry took her to the couch and hefted her body onto it. Carefully removing the mirror and placing it next to the seat, he left promptly for the kitchen. Thankfully, the boys weren't home yet, the children's father was at work, and Candace was still busy upstairs. He returned with a glass of water and was sure to regret his next action. Perry knew it was his only choice. Yes, his cover would be blown. And yes, when Linda woke up she would not be comfortable. But it was worth it to save the woman.
Inhaling slowly, Perry splashed the water on Linda's face and set the cup on the floor. He watched with hopeful eyes as his mom stirred awake. She started muttering, "Oh, you won't believe what kind of dream I had. Everything Candace said turned out to be true, and the schools..." She looked directly at Perry. "...You're not Lawrence."
Perry shook his head sadly. He backed away to let Linda sit up properly. "Where am I? And who are - wait... Perry?"
The agent tipped his hat and chattered solemnly. "So that means... Candace was right? Oh, and what are you doing with that hat? It's like you're a little secret agent or something. Like that plant."
The monotreme sighed, or came as close as you can with a bill, and shamefully withdrew a pamphlet for the third time that summer. "So you've discovered your pet is a secret agent..." Linda started, "Hm. Well, I suppose today can't get any weirder."
Perry gave her an 'Oh, please,' look before showing her the print on the next page. "Oh," Linda said, discovering the reason Perry had to keep his identity a secret even from her. "Don't worry, Perry. I'll keep your secret."
Once again, the platypus wagged his head and folded the pamphlet, neatly tucking it away. He knew that the O.W.C.A. would find out soon enough and he didn't want to get into any more trouble by hiding information from them. Instead, he held his hand out as an offer to join him in his mission. He sure could use the help. Linda finally accepted, and Perry helped her up off the couch.
Pointing to the entrance to his lair, Perry invited the woman to go ahead of him. It was a tight fit, but Linda was able to make it down safely. Perry appeared moments later, falling on her lap. Major Monogram was not present, thankfully, so Perry led her to the back of the room where a few more projects that Phineas and Ferb forgot - including the platypult, Perry's personal favorite - had been recreated.
"There are more?" Linda asked, and for a moment, Perry feared she might faint again. She showed no other sign of this, however, easing Perry's mind a little.
He withdrew a notepad and scribbled, barely legible, "Help me move these?"
"Where?" Linda inquired, confused, "And how?"
"Outside," Perry wrote, "And very carefully."
"Fair enough," Linda agreed, and started helping the platypus, nearly forgetting that she was supposed to be mad at her children. Even she had to admit, being a secret agent (even if not officially) was quite fun.