Back to school today. Yaaay. (My biggest problem with it is that school takes time away from writing. And life. Oh, wait, same thing! XD)
...And why is two updates in a week suddenly an accomplishment?
*Random unknown reader: What do you mean, suddenly?*
Review responses!
Dreadwing216: Well, a bunch more are coming. So do I!
Phineas A: Essentially, the United States vs. Mexico. Sorry if that wasn't clear.
Perfection is not something that can be achieved merely by practice. Rather, perfection is all-encompassing of one's life. It is an obsession. Perfection, therefore, needs to be retained. Once achieved, it will not stay without effort. The fact that they were able to keep it this long is what made Perfeneas and Isealia truly impressive.
"Isealia," Gretchen called, once again reverting to Spanish. "Er... Isabella. You're awake, right?"
The basement given to the girls for their night's stay was dark not only because of its location underground, but also because of the time. Isealia, willing to stay anywhere she was allowed, had easily agreed to sleeping in the only place available for them (Candace was very protective of her room and the boys did not have enough space to share with two more people). Gretchen had, for certain reasons, decided to stay with her friend on the surprisingly clean couches found in the dark space.
"I am present and you have my attention," Isabella replied, returning too to Spanish.
"You... You're going to be okay, right? Promise me you'll be fine? A lot happened today. It will take some getting used to."
"I will be just fine," Isabella replied. "My concern lies with your well-being."
Graciela turned over on her side. "I know you will," she whispered.
Minutes passed and the girls came slightly closer to sleep. This changed as Gretchen continued, "And, Isabella? Question. Just out of curiosity, what do you think about... Phineas?"
Isabella's eyes fluttered open. Her thoughts elevated at the very mention of the peculiar boy. Her gaze not leaving the ceiling, she replied in the only way she would think to. "He's perfect."
"I knew that, Isabella," Gretchen engaged, "But what is it you like about him so much? You obviously hold him in high respect."
"Ah, true, but who wouldn't?" Isabella asked dreamily. "Ever since I first saw his face, I knew he was different. He was just like me. I knew before I had even been told.
"One cannot deny his astounding charisma. He's a very likable person, for reasons more clear to me than water. Honestly, I am a little surprised no one else has taken the liking I had to him. Gretchen?"
By this time, young Graciela had long since fallen asleep. A quick check over the arm of the couch told Isabella that. The experiment turned around, closed her eyes, and whispered, "Buenas noches, Gretchen."
A small bed had been fashioned out of a few extra blankets and a pillow the Flynn-Fletcher's had laying around. Phineas, the gentleman that he was, declined Ferb's offer to let him take his bed and promptly created his own makeshift sleeping area.
The room was lit only by the full moon's light falling gracefully through the windows. Hardly disturbing the quiet of the night, Ferb turned. He offered, "Brother?"
That's right. They were brothers now, and both of them knew it. Ferb did not have to pretend any longer.
"I am present and you have my attention," Phineas quietly responded.
Ferb blinked. "I've been meaning to ask. Now that you've met, what is your opinion of Isabella?"
Phineas's brow furrowed a little as the boy processed his stepbrother's question. "She is perfect," was all he could think to say.
Ferb propped himself up on one arm to angle himself better, and gave Phineas a look that read a request for elaboration. Phineas got the message and continued.
"Isabella is definitely someone special. I am still gratefully surprised that we were allowed to meet. I don't know much about her yet, but as long as she is okay with it, I would like to get to know her better." He chuckled. "We are probably exactly identical, in fact, so it's likely she feels the same. I consider myself lucky."
Ferb simply nodded. He understood, and he knew Phineas did as well. The boy turned over in an act of saying, "Good night."
"Good night, Ferb," Phineas returned, feeling himself, too, turn over and attempt to get to sleep.
Late into the night, two stirrings disturbed the darkness that had enveloped the house: one, on the second floor above ground level; the other, one level below. A short, abrupt jolt of one's shoulders, a mouthful of gritted teeth on one's cringing face. Though both asleep, Phineas and Isabella were once again experiencing something entirely new.
This time, it was pain.
They did not know what was happening, let alone why, as both specimens writhed about in place. They clutched their blankets so hard their knuckles turned white. Hardly a moan escaped the children as they wriggled and jostled in their sleep. The discomfort one would feel if they were force a nose up an ear made each squirm at the bizarre transpiration. Every part of their respective bodies slammed side to side. It was a wonder they remained on their makeshift beds, or that Ferb and Graciela stayed blissfully in peace as this happened. All at once, their entire beings flailed about in an unexplainable and just as horrible pain, quiet grunts and short cries fleeing them.
Outside, a roaring summer thunderstorm cackled with lightning as stray platypuses ducked for cover beneath neighboring porches. The house provided protection from that, but nothing more.
Scientists believe that the universe was created when all matter, compacted into one tiny atom, exploded into the stars and galaxies currently known to man. More sudden than this supposed creation was the awakening of the new Phineas and Isabella. Panting more heavily than a dog after a good game of fetch, the two opened their eyes with a start. Something inside of them had just died, and much too early.
In a word, Isabella felt different. Her hands shook and fidgeted in confusion. She tried shaking her head to clear it, but only more pain registered, though less of a sharp discomfort and more of a mild headache. She pushed herself up with one arm, holding her head with the other.
She did not know how long it was she retained this position, and strangely, she realized she did not care.
She squinted about the basement, blowing stray strands of hair out of her face. Gretchen was still asleep, and at the sight of her friend Isabella felt a short-lived smile creep across her face. Then, it disappeared.
The girl shakily threw the blanket off the couch and placed one bare foot after the other onto the cold concrete ground. Why Graciela, lover of the sky, had chose to stay in such a low place bothered Isabella for a moment, but she dismissed the thought.
Taking a few minutes to right her breathing, Isabella continued to step with thin, powerful legs away from the couch upon which she had rested. Nothing was making sense right now; even she could not find any reason for what she was doing, and for this reason a great sense of dread had fallen around her shoulders.
She closed her eyes slowly, trying to decipher what had happened. Everything she remembered happening the day before added to itself, allowing the girl to awaken something peculiar within herself; pure, unbridled emotion.
Isabella sang.
All my life was black and white
Nothing new, nothing to rue,
And all my goals were in sight.
Everything so clear, like a whisper in my ear
But that was before you.
She swung around one of the house's supporting beams. Her white dress, now being used as a nightgown, swayed along as she turned. Her voice rose only slightly as she began her ascent up the stairs.
Now I know, now I know
My years have never been so.
A fake, a fraud, a dirty patch in gleaming white snow.
Where I've been led in my short life is nothing more than a lie...
Thanks for opening my eyes.
Upstairs, Phineas sat up quickly. Beads of sweat formed at the top of his head, which he brushed off only to find he had acquired a headache. He looked over to Ferb, who was still sleeping soundly. Why Ferb, lover of the earth, was given a room on the top floor of the house bothered Phineas briefly, but other questions quickly took its place. How, for example, could he have still been sleeping after what had happened to his brother? What had happened to him?
Phineas slowly stood up, stretched, and gazed out the window to notice thousands of raindrops splattered against it. Each one reflected his needle-shaped face. He had no idea what was going on, but something inside of him had opened up and compelled him to do something interesting. He had felt so free now. He looked down, and turned away.
Phineas sang.
Each of my days were meant to amaze
And as they did, I thought they rid
The world of bad ways.
Living in ignorance and thinking it brilliance
All that was before you.
Phineas moved towards the door, grasping its handle and silently swinging it open to face the hallway. The loose-fitting pajamas he was given were pushed back swiftly by the momentum of the door opening as lightning struck outside the window behind him, effectively backlighting the boy. He raised his voice slightly as he began his descent down the stairs.
Now I'm sure, now I'm sure
This world is so much more.
A race, a chase, a disgrace you think you're looking for.
What I've been taught in my short life resulted from a bit of spite...
Thanks for giving me that light.
Phineas strode towards the source of the other voice he heard; Isabella did the same. At once, the two burst into each other's view as they faced opposite sides of the living room. Finally seeing each other again momentarily distracted them from whatever they had previously experienced, but they continued their song with just as much passion.
The two took turns singing the next stanza, with Isabella taking the lead and Phineas answering her on every other line.
And everything is different
(Yes, everything changed.)
It used to be so easy...
(...When life was but a game.)
Look into my open eyes!
(I shall see your brilliant light!)
And help me, please, to find the truth
(Hidden from me before you...)
Phineas and Isabella shared the next line, pressing their hands against those of their partner and taking one step forward each with the foot on their respective rights. They closed their eyes and pronounced the last words slowly, as if trying to make them last forever.
Beee-fooore... You..!
Slowly, each pair of hands moved as appropriate to clasp the one in front of them as the two held the last note. As a result of this, their lips were already in the position necessary for what they had both expected to happen next. It was Isabella who moved in first...
From behind a corner came the faint, dark yellow glow of a flashlight and the shadow of a tall, rectangular figure. "Hello, Isabella? Was that you I heard?" Asked the shadow, and the children snapped to the sound, grasping each other for protection.
"Run," Phineas whispered urgently. The two scampered back to their rooms, more afraid than they had ever been in their lives. Their endocrine systems learned what adrenaline was.
Isabella did not stop until she was safely thrown onto the couch by her own momentum; she grabbed the blanket tight. Her breathing was rapid and unsteady, just loud enough to be heard above her beating heart.
"Isealia, are you okay?" Inquired a concerned Graciela in jumbled Spanish, reaching around for her glasses. She pushed them up her nose, folded her arms over one of the couch's, and waited for a response.
"...I'll be fine." Phineas looked towards the front of the bedroom, letting Ferb see his slightly distressed and much-more-emotional-than-normal profile. "But, it's..." The boy looked down for a second, then sheepishly met his brother's eyes. "It's Phineas now."
...Yup. Ah went there. Hey, I don't know what it's like from the reader's perspective, but writing that song gave me a real Frozen vibe. What do you guys think?
