Ferb watched as his brother "argued" with his girlfriend, which basically amounted to her venting her frustrations and him chuckling trying to assuage her. He watched his friend, Baljeet, run off to what he hope was to begin a relationship that honestly should have happened already. His parents were still happily married and Candace was engaged to Jeremy. It seemed like everyone had someone but him. He wasn't a bad-looking chap. Puberty was kind to him, so he shifted from goofy looking kid with high purple pants, to a boyishly handsome 15-year-old. He was, of course, still the tallest, but only barely as Buford caught up to him. His deep voice with an almost lyrical English accent only matured as time went on and girls literally swooned when he decided to speak.

However, that was essentially the problem. As time went on Ferb began to speak less and less. Whenever he would speak, he'd either be interrupted, misheard, or not understood. So unless it was of great importance, he remained silent. Some people of course took that silence as arrogance or an inflated sense of self. Some people saw it as laziness. Some people even ignored him in general. Of course, one of these people knew the real Ferb or the real reason for his silence.

11 years ago...

Four-year old Ferb Fletcher was spending a lovely day with his mother at the shops in Downtown London. They lived out in the suburbs, so visits to the city were rare and a special occasion. Ferb was a very talkative boy. He'd love to tell his mother, father, and grandparents about anything and everything. They'd love to hear him speak, as he spoke with such passion and innocence, much like most kids his age.

Ferb was walking down the street beside his mother who was happily giving her son her full attention. She hadn't noticed the crossing signal. The driver of the car hadn't noticed the pedestrians. She was killed on impact.

Ferb watched in mute horror as his mother was taken down by the car. He still remembers what she was saying as she was hit.

'Franklin, sweetie, that's wonderful, but...'

She'd never finish the sentence.

The ambulance arrived and looked over the small green-haired boy in tears by the scene not letting anyone try to take him away. They asked him all sorts of questions to try to contact someone...he wouldn't speak. The police arrived and found his mother's purse. They'd found her husband's number and called him down.

Lawrence arrived at the scene and fought his way past the police tape. His wife's body was no longer there, but the blood remained. He was about to break down, then he remembered that his son was with her. He asked...no demanded that he be brought to him.

Ferb was placed in his father's arms and his fathers inquiries to how he was fell on deaf ears. He'd never seen anyone, let alone a child, look so broken. He just picked him up and took him to his grandparents' house until he could get everything sorted.

It was a full 6 months later before he'd said his first words since the accident.

"...it was my fault."

He'd always felt guilty for his mother's death. Because he couldn't be quiet, he'd lost his mother. His father had lost the first love of his life. His heart became hollow. Now that he'd finally gotten used to his new family, he wasn't going to ruin anything by prattling on like an idiot. He chooses his words carefully and uses them sparingly. If that means he'll never have a relationship like his everyone else, so be it.

Perry's wrist communicator went off, meaning that he was needed else where. He silently made for one of his secret entrances and was off to his lair where he was greeted by Major Francis Monogram of the O.W.C.A.

"Good afternoon, Agent P. Well, you know the drill, Doofenshmirtz is at it again with another scheme. You know what to do!" he gruffly said to his top agent.

Agent P saluted and was off to disarm whatever mildly annoying contraption Heinz Doofenshmirtz cooked up.

He landed on the roof of the building that he'd visited so often over the years.

"Ah, Perry the Platypus, you're just in time. Here, take these streamers and help me hang them up!"

The man dressed like a pharmacist ordered, shoving a handful of streamers at the semi-aquatic mammal.

Perry looked down at the streamers confused. Suddenly, the streamers began to move and wrap themselves around him.

"Haha! Perry the Platypus! You know, we've been doing this for a while so I wanted to try something a bit new for your usual trap, what do you think? Pretty good, eh?"

Perry just rolled his eyes waiting for the 'evil' rant.

"Now may I present to you, my Make-You-Tell-The-Truth-inator! You see, Perry the Platypus, it all started just last week. I'd bought a new jacket and showed up to surprise my daughter Vanessa at her job. You know she's an intern for my brother Roger at City Hall. Anyway, when I showed up and asked her what she really thought, she told me that it was 'the single most hideous piece of cloth thrown together and to go away she was busy with work.' I was so hurt by her brutal honesty, that I have come up with a device that will make anyone it hits tell the truth no matter what! Once everyone is depressed and vulnerable, I will swoop in and become the supreme ruler of the TRI-STATE-AREA! MUAHAHA!"

As the 'doctor' ranted, Perry had used his hat to cut the streamers off of him and got to work dealing with the demented dad. As usual, in their scuffle they device was activated and shot out two beams. One hitting Baljeet and the other hitting Ferb. It then overloaded and exploded while Dr. Doofenshmirtz was tied up himself cursing the name of the agent who once again foiled his plans.

"CURSE YOU, PERRY THE PLATYPUS!"