It's About Time! - Part One

"Ah, it's a shame you can't come on our mission today," Mavis said despondently into her cell phone. "Let me know how Artemis's appointment goes, okay?"

"I will," said Apollo. "Thanks for understanding, Mavie."

"No problem. I hope it goes well."

"Thanks. See you later?"

Mavis smiled, forgetting momentarily that Apollo couldn't see her. "Definitely, see you later."

She hung up and tucked her phone into her pocket. It really was a shame that Apollo couldn't come with them this time, but his sister's health was much more important. She hoped Artemis would be okay; this was an emergency appointment, not a scheduled one, but Apollo wouldn't elaborate on that so Mavis had no idea how serious the situation was. Hopefully, it was nothing terribly serious.

As she reclined in her seat, Perry dropped down into his from above. He gave her a brief nod. "G'morning."

"Morning," responded Mavis. "No Apollo today. He's going to the hospital with his sister."

Perry frowned. "His sister?"

"Yeah, Artemis. She was paralysed in an accident a few weeks ago. Did... Apollo not tell you?"

After a moment, the platypus looked away. "No, he didn't."

"Ah, well... I'm sure he had his reasons."

Just then, the screen came to life and Major Monogram's image appeared. Perry and Mavis sat up straighter, but nothing happened.

They exchanged a glance. The major was neither moving nor speaking. Perry waved his arms at the screen. Still no response.

Then Carl's voice came from somewhere behind the camera: "Uh, Agent P? Agent M?"

Carl himself appeared onscreen, his face paler than usual. "Hey, it's me: Carl. The intern?"

Mavis frowned. "What's wrong with my dad?"

"Well, uh... You could say we've got a bit of a situation here. Major Monogram has been frozen like this pretty much all day."

"F-Frozen?!" Mavis yelped.

"Yeah, solid as a rock." Carl rapped his knuckles against Major Monogram's face but ended up knocking the poor major over. "Oh, sorry. Anyhow, if the Major were able to, I'm sure he'd say- Well, "Ouch", first of all, am I right?" He laughed nervously.

Mavis glared at the intern.

"Uh, but seriously, I'm sure he'd say "Doofenshmirtz was up to something, and you should get to the bottom of it"." He glanced at his boss. "Am I right, sir?"

An indistinct mumbling noise came from the major.

"I'm gonna take that as a yes," said Carl. "Good luck, agents."

As Perry rushed off towards the jetpacks, Mavis approached the screen and gently touched the frozen image of her father. "You'll be okay, Dad," she said quietly, swallowing down the lump in her throat. "I promise."

...

When the two agents got to Doofenshmirtz Evil Incorporated, the jingle sounded immediately.

"Something's off," muttered Mavis, her mind still on her father. "I think Doof must be responsible for freezing my dad, but... doesn't he usually wait for us to get there before he activates his machines?"

"...I think you're right."

The two landed on the balcony. From inside, they could hear Doofenshmirtz yelling and the sound of some kind of laser firing.

Perry burst into the room, closely followed by Mavis. Doofenshmirtz was standing in the middle of the room, holding a smoking laser gun.

"P-Perry the Platypus!" yelped the evil scientist. "I, uh..." He quickly hid the laser gun behind his back. "There's no-one else here! I-I mean... what are you doing here, Perry the Platypus? And Agent Mavis?"

"Um... we're your... nemeses?" Mavis frowned in confusion. "What's going on?"

The doorknob of Doofenshmirtz's closet began rattling. When Doofenshmirtz turned to look, Perry and Mavis saw a paw print on the evil scientist's cheek.

The two agents narrowed their eyes suspiciously at Doofenshmirtz, who gave a nervous chuckle. "Heh. I have mice?"

Mavis watched as Perry stormed across the room.

"I wouldn't go in there if I were you!" Doofenshmirtz said hurriedly.

But Perry threw open the door to the closet, revealing a small panda with a fedora on, staring back at them.

Doofenshmirtz joined them by the closet. "Perry the Platypus, I swear, I've never seen this secret agent-looking panda before!"

Perry pointed up at the paw print on Doofenshmirtz's cheek. The evil scientist chuckled nervously again as he quickly wiped it off with his handkerchief. "Well, there's a panda in my closet and a panda paw print on my cheek... But it's not what you think! We're not enemies, we're just bad friends."

Mavis rushed over to join the two, her heart sinking. "Heinz, what is going on?"

After a moment, Doofenshmirtz sighed. "I'm sorry, Perry the Platypus and Agent Mavis. I didn't want you to find out this way. Well, here it is: Peter the Panda is my new nemesis."

Mavis's eyes widened. "What?!"

"W-We met at an evil genius expo in Seattle, and, well, me and Peter, we instantly disliked each other. And then, he foiled a little evil scheme of mine. And... And I didn't plan it that way, it just happened."

Painfully aware that the panda was just standing there watching them, Doofenshmirtz turned to him. "Peter the Panda, be a dear and go get us a soda."

As the panda walked off, the evil scientist continued, "It's not that I don't hate you guys anymore. I do, but look, I- I just think it's time for us to, you know, take a break and start fighting other people."

"I don't... I don't understand." Mavis felt tears prick behind her eyelids. "Did we do something wrong?"

"No, no, not at all. It's not you, it's me. Really, I-" He broke off as Peter returned, carrying two sodas. "Oh, thank you, Peter the Panda."

Perry and Mavis watched despondently as the two sipped their drinks in unison.

"Look, I'd offer you two one, but I think it's better if we just have a clean break. Don't you?"

"I..." Mavis's shoulders drooped. "I don't..."

"Come on, you two, you're making this harder than it needs to be." Doofenshmirtz started ushering Mavis and Perry towards the door. "Go on, it's over now."

Mavis opened her mouth to respond but her attention was caught by the giant laser standing next to the door. "Wait, what's-?"

"Oh, that? That's a Freeze-Inator ray but, uh, I- I don't want to explain it again. I just gave the whole spiel to Peter. But, don't worry. He's stopping me. He's- He's got it well in hand. Goodbye."

He practically shoved the two agents out the door and closed it behind them. After a moment, they both heard him yell, "Curse you, Peter the Panda!"

...

The journey back to the lair was quiet. Neither agent felt like talking. When they got in, Perry immediately sat down heavily on the step by the door.

Mavis sat down next to him, her eyes staring blankly at the screen where her father's frozen figure could still be seen.

"It was Doof who froze my dad, wasn't it." Mavis choked back tears. "With that horrible ray of his."

Perry wordlessly nodded.

Mavis finally tore her eyes away from the screen and looked down at her partner. "You doing okay?"

"I... I've been Doof's nemesis for so long. What am I if I'm not his nemesis?"

"You're a great secret agent and an even better friend," said Mavis gently, placing her hand on his shoulder.

But Perry wrenched it off. "That doesn't matter. I'm sorry, Mavis, but... I can't do this anymore. If I can't be his nemesis, then I can't be a secret agent."

Mavis's stomach started squirming almost painfully as she stared at Perry and realised what he meant. "You're quitting? Are you serious?"

Perry got to his feet and padded across the lair. Mavis followed right behind him. "No, Perry, come on! You can't just quit like this! Wh-What would Dad say if he was here?"

"No offense, Mavis, but I don't care. This is my decision. At least this way, I'll have more time to spend with my family."

Mavis's composure finally broke. Tears sliding down her cheeks, she reached out and grabbed Perry's wrist. "Don't leave me. Please. I need you."

Perry stared at her sadly, before gently removing his wrist from her grip. "No, you don't. Neither does Doof. Nobody here at OWCA does. The only people who need me are Phineas and Ferb, so please, Mavis, let me go be with them."

Mavis covered her mouth to prevent herself from sobbing audibly as Perry went over to the special bust and placed his hat onto it. He and Mavis both watched as a glass case came down over it and the metal panels slid shut, closing the door on Perry's career.

With one last sad smile, Perry left the lair.

Mavis nearly broke down. More tears escaped from her eyes. But she wiped them away and took in a deep breath. Perry may not have been her partner anymore but she still had a job to do.

She turned to the screen and cleared her throat, composing herself enough to speak without her voice trembling. "Carl, Doof isn't our nemesis anymore. Is there anyone who needs stopping today?"

"Hmm, let me just check the major's notes." Carl picked up a clipboard and turned over the page. "Oh, there is someone. I'll send the details to your phone."

"Thanks."

As Mavis turned away, Carl spoke again: "Mavis, are you sure you're ready for a solo mission? It'll be your first time out on assignment without Perry."

Though that statement sent a thrill of fear through her, Mavis nodded determinedly. "I can do it. I'm ready."

I have to be.

...

A/N: to be continued in part 2.