Weight of Memories

Summary: When Candace was 16 she ran away from home. 10 years later Phineas has given up all hope of ever finding her until his 6 year old niece appears on his doorstep. Now he must go a journey of a life time to reunite his family and follow the path of fate.

Rating: Mature for language, implied sex, and maybe slightly graphic violence later on.

Notes: Don't ask about the pairings, I haven't really decided just yet. Just expect a bit of everything for now. Also, I DO NOT want reviews saying how 'Phineas should be with Isabella!' or 'Isabella loves Phineas!' Same goes for Canderemy and Ferbnessa fans. This is my story and I will do what I please.

One of the main points of this story is to show that things don't always go as planned and that life will always throw you curve balls and other surprises that you would never expect. So not everyone will end up with who everyone thinks they will.

I'm not saying those pairs won't happen, I'm just saying the more you bug me, the less likely it will happen.

On another note, this story was inspired by 'The Longest Journey' and 'Dreamfall' so don't be surprised to see many allusions to it.

With that said, please enjoy the story!

8*8*8

What was she doing?

Candace didn't know why she were she was running too. All she knew was that she had to get away from here. Get away from her family, her friends, her boyfriend, everything.

She didn't even know what had happened really. One minute she was talking with her mother and the next they were yelling. She couldn't even remember what they were even yelling about. All Candace knew was that she was mad, upset, and just wanted to be left alone. What she did remember was the last thing they had said to each other.

"If you don't like the way things are, then get out and don't come back!"

"Fine! I don't need you anyway!"

And she left.

She just ran out the front door and started running. She didn't even know where she was running to. She simply let her body lead the way through the heavy rain that poured around her.

'What now?' she wondered as she began to slow.

She was all alone now. There was no Jeremy, no Stacy, no parents, no Phineas and Ferb.

Nobody.

She fell to her knees as exhaustion finally consumed her.

'I… I have no where left to go.'She thought through her tears.'I'm all alone.'

She looked up suddenly as she heard a loud cry from above. She looked up and saw a small black crow with circle around her. She let out a slight shriek as it swooped towards her. It flew past her however and landed on the out stretched arm of a young teen around her age.

"Hm? What's this?"

*8*

"…and that concludes our lesson for today. For homework write a 10,000 word essay on dream psychology." The college professor said as the bell rang. Ferb Fletcher, now twenty-one and a sophomore in college elbowed his younger step brother away.

"Hm?" Phineas said as he rubbed his big blue eyes. Like his brother he was also twenty-one and a sophomore in college. "Oh, class over already?" Phineas let out a yawn as he stood. "Oh, man! I missed everything, didn't I? Shoot!" Ferb rested a hand on his shoulder and gave him a look that read,

"Don't worry. I'll transfer a copy of my notes to you."

"Thanks Ferb!" The two gathered his things and they left the class room with the rest of their fellow students.

"Man!" Phineas said when they were out of class. "I can't believe how tired I've been lately." Ferb gave him a flat look and Phineas gave a guilty laugh. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I really shouldn't be pulling so many all-nighters."

Both the Flynn-Fletcher boys were sophomores at Danville University. Ferb was majoring in filming so he could full fill his dream of becoming a movie director, while Phineas was still just a full time student. He didn't know what he wanted to do with his life just yet and truthfully, he wasn't in too much of hurry to decide just yet. He was fine just being just a student for now.

"Yawn! Well, let's get back to the dorm for now. Maybe I can finish our school work early and get some Zs." In response to this Ferb held up his day planner. Phineas glanced at it and remembered.

"Oh yeah! We're supposed to be meeting Isabella and them, aren't we?" he said as he rubbed his head. "I completely forgot." He let out a sigh. "Well, I guess it'll be interesting to see if Buford's still dating that model of his."

Ferb nodded in agreement and they made their way to Dan's Café where they saw their three friends waiting for them.

"Hey, Phineas!" Isabella greeted excitedly as she waved them over. Isabella was currently majoring in journalism mainly because Phineas said that she would be an excellent reporter.

"Hey, Izzy." Phineas greeted with a yawn. Man, where did she always get her energy from? "What's up?"

"Buford's showing off the new cell phone his girlfriend got him." Baljeet grumbled. Baljeet was majoring in science with his high school girlfriend, Wendy.

"It does everything for me. Look!" Buford held up a cell and beeped. The next moment a waiter came out with a large latte' and a plate full of doughnuts. "See? I don't even have to order anymore! It does it for me!"

Buford wasn't going to college, but was doing very well for himself because he was dating a model, who seemed to adored him for some reason and bought him a lot of stuff.

"I still can't believe you're dating the new model for Flawless Girl!" Baljeet muttered as he leaned back in his seat.

"Believe it, nerd! I'm hot! Which is why I have all this neat stuff!" Buford winked as he showed off the jacket his girlfriend had given him. Isabella let out a sigh as she put her head in her hand.

"Buford, don't you think that it might be wrong for you to be accepting all these gifts?" she said. "You're acting like a! Like a! What's the word I'm looking for?"

"Man-whore?" Ferb offered.

"Yeah! That's it!"

"Hey! What about all the stuff I gotta do to keep her happy? If you know what I mean." Buford said with a large grin.

"UGH! Buford! I do not need to hear the details!" Baljeet exclaimed, covering his delicate ears.

"Why? It might help you with your girlfriend…"

"LALALA! I'm not listening!"

Phineas laughed as he watched his friends. He leaned forward and crossed his arms on the table before laying on them. Everything had changed so much in the world since he was a child. He glanced at a nearby holographic tree.

The biggest difference had to be was that almost all the plants had died in the world until there almost none left. Phineas had no idea what had happened, for it had happened so fast.

One moment he and Ferb were in the back yard, making plans for the day, the next all the plants began to crumble until there were none left. No trees, no flowers, no grass, nothing.

Needless to say, the world's economy took a gigantic hit, and biodiversity went in overkill. Without the plants, one species of animals began to die one after another. Not only that, but food was becoming scarce, so more people than ever were beginning to starve to death. As if things couldn't get any worse, the air was starting to evaporate as well and scientist became very worried about the Ozone atmosphere.

With food and air becoming scarce, the world was naturally in panic until a technology company known as Dragon Corp. stepped up. With their advanced technology, they managed to bring the world into a new future and save it from complete annihilation.

It was surprisingly easy adjustment for the world, because before the disaster humans were already heading in that direction. Food was no longer a problem because Dragon Coup had somehow gathered all the seeds to grow fruits and vegetables and bred the remaining animals in special plants and habitants.

They didn't replant any of the plants outside of habitat reserves however for two reasons; One was that scientist believe that there was something wrong with the soil of the earth and that's what caused all the plants to die. The second reason was that with the advancing technology, there simply wasn't a place for such simple things.

Environmental groups of course fought this daily, saying that they needed to repopulate this world, but because of Dragon Corp's influence and power, they were quickly silenced.

Phineas sighed. While he was happy with all the new technology and all the things it could do, he missed all the things that had been lost. Like the shade of a real tree, or the smell of a real flower, or being able it lie in the grass with the sun on his face. All the holographic flowers smelled like perfume, the plastic grass cut into his skin, and while the holographic trees did give some shade, every time he couldn't leaned against it. There were plastic trees available, but it just wasn't the same.

'But the world isn't the only thing that's changed.' He thought as he turned to his friends. Upon closer investigation he was really surprised how much they had all changed since they were young.

For one, Buford had lost some weight over the years and was more muscle than anything. He even let his hair grow out a bit. He hated school and thus refused to go to college, though Phineas though this might be because his family couldn't afford it. One day he a model who fell in love with him and began dating him. Phineas wasn't really sure though if Buford actually loved the model, or was just dating her for the free stuff she gave him. Because of all suits he wore nowadays, Phineas often though he looked like a body guard or a club owner.

Phin's gaze then drifted to the Indian boy who was trying to block out Buford's talking about his girlfriend.

Baljeet was still stick like, but Phineas noted that his personality had gotten bolder over the years. He believed it was thanks to girlfriend, Wendy Stinglehopper's influence, who the Indian boy loved with a passion. Even though his parents weren't crazy about the idea that their only son dating a non-Indian girl. He usually wore a long sleeved shirt with a blue sweater vest.

Phineas then shifted his gaze to female friend. Isabella had defiantly blossomed since childhood. She had the figure of a woman and the face of Snow White, with her long black hair and bright blue eyes. Izzy usually wore a pink blouse with a matching beret and a pink and green plaid skirt.

Phineas admitted that she was very pretty and that he would have asked her out if he had banished any romantic feelings he might have for her when he saw that Ferb seemed to like her as well.

Speaking of Ferb;

Phineas turned to his brother who watching Isabella as she scolded Buford.

Now Ferb had really grown over the years and was every girl's dream guy. He had dated his first girlfriend in high school, but they broke up when Vanessa had to leave for job offer.

He worried Phineas for a while, but eventually Ferb had gotten over his break up and had moved on with his life.

One day, Phinny even notice that Ferb had started watching Isabella in a more than friendly way. At first Phineas was confused, but then realized that Ferb must have started liking her!

Phineas felt a little jumbled and jealous at first, but then the more he thought about it, it would be great if those two got together. After all, he loved them both and if they could be happy together, that was fine with him. Besides, there was no way a girl like Isabella would ever go for a guy like him. Ferb was defiantly more her type. She had even described her perfect man when he asked one day as a strong leader with big dreams and an innocent heart. (note: she was describing the way she saw Phineas.) No one fit that bill more than his brother.

Ferb's fashion changed daily, but today he wore a leather jacket with matching jeans and t-shirt with a British flag on it.

Finally, Phineas thought about himself. Other than the fact he traded in his stripe shirt and blue shorts for an orange plaid shirt with a red jacket and blue jeans, he was pretty much the same. Personality wise he was exactly the same, except he didn't invent or make blue prints anymore. He couldn't. It had been too painful ever since…

"Phineas!" The red head looked up as his name was mentioned.

"Hm? Oh, sorry!" he said as he stretched. "Guess I drifted there, huh?"

"Are you okay?" Isabella asked worriedly.

"Yeah, I'm just tired because of all the all-nighters I've been pulling."

"Ugh! Tell me about it!" Baljeet muttered as he hit his head on the table. "I feel as if my brain's gonna explode from all the homework they're giving me!"

"Wait, didn't you used to do college work when you were nine?" Buford frowned.

"No, I used to attend college seminars!" Baljeet corrected. "There's a difference!"

"Whatever! Ha, I feel sorry for you losers! Not going to college was the best thing I ever did. Hell, I should have just dropped out of high school and saved myself the effort!"

"She'll dump you eventually, Buford." Isabella warned. "Just you wait!"

"Whatever!" Buford waved her off. "Anyway, it's summer! And since Cattie's is in Rome right now, we should do something fun!" Ferb kept quiet as usual, but turned to his brother who shrugged.

"Yeah! We can go to an amusement park or something." He said.

"Or you could build one!" Buford pressed. "Ya know, like when we were kids."

"Heh. Sorry Buf," Phineas said as a sad gaze fell over his eyes. "But I don't do that kind of stuff anymore."

"Ah, c'mon! Just because your sister-!" He was cut off when Phineas stood suddenly and slammed his hands on the table. His chair fell back with crash against the concrete as result from the sudden movement, but he really couldn't care. His friends all stared him in surprise as his hair covered his eyes.

"Sorry," he finally said with a strained politeness. "I gotta go. I'm really tired today." He didn't even wait for their responses. He just grabbed his bag and ran off, Ferb closely in tow. When the two were gone, Isabella glared at Buford and kicked him under the table.

"Ow!"

*8*

Phineas ran until he reached their dorm. Once there, he panted as he leaned against the door of the dorm room he and Ferb shared. As he rested his head against the door, memories that he did not want to remember began to flow into his mind.

"Dammit!" He was pulled out of his thoughts by Ferb when he placed a hand on his shoulder. Ferb gave him an understanding look before pulling out their key. When the door was opened Phineas flopped himself next to his pet platypus Perry, who chattered a greeted. Phineas gave him a tired smile.

"Hey, Per." He said. "What did you do today? Probably not much, as usual." He stroked Perry pushing himself up. He dropped his bag and pulled out his touch pad. Phineas then went to a special website for "Missing Persons." His eyes sadden when he saw the words "No match" appeared on his screen. Ferb and Perry watch him as he tossed his cell on his bed.

"'m gonna take a shower." He said. Without waiting for the silent reply, Phineas grabbed a change of clothes and went into the bathroom.

When he was gone, Ferb reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a picture. In the picture were a younger Phineas and Ferb with their older sister, Candace, and Perry. Ferb's expression fell slightly as he traced the image of his sister.

Ten years.

Ten, long years.

Ten, long, painful years since Candace Flynn, his beloved sister, vanished from his life. Ferb just didn't get it. What had happened? Everything was going so well that year. She was actually enjoying her life it seemed and she wasn't as high strung as she usually was when she was around them. She seemed so happy… so why did she leave?

In the shower, Phineas was wondering the same thing as the warm water washed over his face.

'Candace… What happened?'

He could still remember that day for he kept running it in his head like an old film.

Before the disaster happened, Candace had gotten a part time job and she really seemed to enjoy it. She was happier, kinder, she was even getting along Perry. She seemed so… at peace with herself.

Then the disaster happened.

Everyone had been so busy worrying what they were going to do with the economy that they hardly notice that one day she had come home absolutely miserable. Nobody thought about it too much though, for everyone was touchy at that time. Everyone just assumed it had to do with the disaster. But for the following few weeks, Candace was extra bitter and angry at everything and everyone.

It as if the world had become a hateful enemy to her and she wanted nothing more than to block it out.

That was probably the reason she had gotten into a fight with their mother. Phineas didn't hear the whole argument, or even what they were fighting about. But he had heard the last part and it still rang within him every day.

"If you don't like the way things are, then get out and don't come back!"

"Fine! I don't need you anyway!"

And then she was gone.

Of course, Linda had regretted her words. She had just been so tired from worrying about their future and so very hungry from the many missed meals. She and the whole family did everything they could to find Candace, but no one knew where she went.

Eventually, they had all given up.

Even Phineas, who never gave up on anything, gave up. Well, not completely. He supposed that since he checked the missing person's website daily he hadn't completely given up, but truthfully he didn't hold out much hope that he would ever find her again.

That was why he had given up inventing completely. Somehow when Candace left, she had taken his little inventing spark with her. Deep in his heart, he believed that he might have somehow chased away his sister with all his wild inventions and ideas. Because of this Phineas had ripped up all his blue prints and burned his future idea book. He became an absolutely ordinary boy, just like Candace had always wanted. Too bad she would never know it.

Or so he thought.

Phineas had just finished drying his hair when someone knocked at the door. He glanced at Ferb who shrugged. That was odd, they weren't expecting anything. The triangle head boy sighed. It was most likely that Isabella was checking up on them after they had run off earlier. He walked to the door and saw…

No one.

He blinked in surprise. Was someone just playing a prank?

"Ahem!"

Phineas looked down and his eyes widen. In his door way stood a little girl with big blue eyes and bright orange hair that curled at the end. For a second, Phineas thought he was looking at a younger Candace but realized that was impossible.

"Are you Phineas or Ferb?" she demanded suddenly. Phineas gapped for a moment, stunned for a minute. The girl raised an eye brow as she impatiently tapped her foot, hands on her hips.

"Well?"

"Um, I'm Phineas…" He finally said. The girl's face brightened as a wide smile crossed her face.

"Awesome!" she said. She reached out, grabbed his hand, and shook it. "Pleased ta meet cha! I'm Amanda and I'm your niece!"

Phineas felt his body turn to jelly as a sack of bricks fell on his head.

"N-niece…?" he stuttered. His mind began to spin like the tornado that swept Dorothy to Oz.

Niece? He had a niece? He was an uncle?

Finally, Phineas couldn't take anymore and he passed out.

*8*

Poor Phineas! XD Sorry if I over exaggerated a little about all the plants dying, but one of the genres is Fantasy, I'm supposed to exaggerate. I apologize if it's a little complicated, but I tried my best to explain. I wonder if I over explained.

Well, feel free to ask any questions that you may have and I'll do my best to answer them.

What happened to the future? What happened to Candace? Who is this little girl who claims to be her daughter? How the heck did Buford manage to get a model for a girlfriend?

If you want these questions and more to be answered, review!

Profile:

Phineas Flynn

Age: 21

DOB: August 19

Occupation: Full time student

Skills: First aid and quick thinking

Other: Ever since his sister ran away, Phineas became a normal boy with no ambition for anything except getting Isabella and Ferb together. He spends most his time playing with the new technology and doing school work, which he tries to pile himself in to try and forget his sister without much success.