literature

PnF: Royal Rumbling Hearts 04

Deviation Actions

DJLowrider's avatar
By
Published:
491 Views

Literature Text

Most people found the view from Tower Bridge's walkways to simply be pleasant. To a young girl who'd never set foot outside of the United States, however, it was breathtaking. Gretchen stood as close to the protective glass encasing the walkway as she could, taking in the panorama.

"Such a fantastic view of such a fantastic river," she said, captivated by it all.

"Most people aren't all that impressed by the Thames," Ferb noted with a shrug. "It is rather muddy after all."

"They wouldn't think that way if they knew its history. This is one of the most important rivers in the world! Economically it served as the thoroughfare for England's ships for centuries. Strategically, controlling it has always been critical to defending London; even during World War II."

Ferb cocked an eyebrow at her, impressed at her knowledge. "For someone who's never been here before you certainly know a lot about England. Most tourists mistake Tower Bridge for London Bridge."

"I did an extensive report on the Thames River for Social Studies last year," Gretchen said, looking back at him. "It was for our study on famous rivers of the world. Remember the day Baljeet and I were arguing in the hall after school?"

"It's rather hard to forget. Outside of science fiction trivia, I've never seen him get so passionate about something. Is that what that was all about?"

"Yeah, we kinda got into a debate over which river was more historically significant: the Thames or the Ganges."

"That was rather loud for a debate, wasn't it?"

Gretchen blushed from embarrassment. "Yeah. We apologized to each other the next day. He's just very protective of his country's history, especially with the Ganges' religious significance. As for me, the Thames is really special because of the Frost Fairs."

"Okay, now I'm impressed. Some British people don't even know about that."

"I mean, how cool is that? The river used to freeze so solid people would set up tents and actually live right on top of it! What I wouldn't give to see that actually happen…"

As Gretchen daydreamed for a moment, Ferb quickly pulled out a notepad and pencil and hastily scribbled "freeze a river and throw a party on it" inside of it. That was definitely an idea to pass by Phineas some other time. He managed to hide his materials just as she snapped out of her reverie and walked back over to him.

"So what's next on the itinerary," she asked.

"Southwark Cathedral isn't too far off from here," he replied as they started walking towards the exit. "There's also the ever-popular Tower of London."

Gretchen's eyes lit up in anticipation. "Any chance we can hit both?"

Ferb smiled confidently at her. "Your wish is my command, milady."

Gretchen blushed again at the comment and fell in alongside Ferb. For a moment, she cautiously began to reach for his hand but stopped and calmed herself down. It was too soon in the day for such a bold move; besides, just travelling the city like this and sharing its history with someone as amazing as him was more than romantic enough for her.

==========

"We're not going to shop for robot parts or something, right," Isabella asked.

"Far from it," Phineas replied with a smile.

"Or car parts? Airplane parts? Cold fusion reactor parts?"

"No, no, and no. Just trust me on this."

"Normally I would, Phineas, but we're heading away from just about every major sightseeing attraction in London right now. What's out this way that's so special?"

"You'll see. It's a surprise."

Isabella sighed and turned to the window of the double-decker bus they were riding. Much as she wanted to believe that Phineas had something special in mind for them, his track record spoke much louder. As they continued their journey she idly wondered if Gretchen was having any better luck on her tour of the city with Ferb.

==========

When Ferb had promised a whirlwind tour of London, he hadn't been joking around as Gretchen had now found out firsthand. After the Tower of London and Southwark Cathedral they'd made their way west, stopping for a quick snack along the way. Presently they were coming out of the Churchill War Rooms, which was actually a museum dedicated to the life of Winston Churchill. It was a stop both of them appreciated greatly.

"Anywhere else you'd still like to get to today," Ferb asked as they exited the museum. "We've still got loads of time before we promised to meet up with Phineas and Isabella."

"I would like to ride the London Eye if at all possible," she replied, sounding a bit sheepish, "but is there anything you'd like to do, Ferb? I feel like I'm monopolizing the whole day, after all."

"Oh I've quite enjoyed this time as well, so don't worry about that. I don't get many opportunities to show off my home country's capital city, after all."

It didn't take much walking from the museum for them to both see an incredible, and rare, sight. Westminster Abbey was visible from where they were, as was an absolute crush of people lined up outside its gates. Many of the people even carried sleeping gear so as to camp outside the abbey's gates for the coming event.

"People are really excited for this wedding, aren't they," Gretchen noted.

"More than I could possibly describe in words," Ferb replied. "My father being one of them."

"Oh man, it's really too bad he couldn't come then."

"Yes and no. Much as I'm sure he regrets not being here, father's a bit of a nutter when it comes to the royal family; especially with regards to Princess Diana and her sons."

"I've only ever read about her. Was she really that special?"

Ferb nodded vigorously. "Father speaks of her from time to time as a member of British royalty who was the very picture of compassion, beauty, and grace. To him, she was everything a princess should be; or at least, everything a princess out of a storybook should be. That her oldest son is getting married tomorrow in what is destined to be as much of a spectacle as her own wedding was is, in father's opinion, as it should rightfully be."

Gretchen looked from Ferb back to the crowd of people. "I guess rather than your father it's more appropriate to say it's too bad she couldn't be here for this wedding, then."

Ferb nodded in agreement. "Indeed. I'm sure there are those who believe she'll be attending in spirit, or those who say she'll be there in the hearts and minds of all those present. Still, I'm sure Prince William wishes she were there in person instead."

"I'm sure it'll still be quite a fabulous and romantic event, though. I can't wait to actually witness it."

"I'm more interested in the subsequent festivities to be honest."

"That too," Gretchen said, suddenly remembering what lie ahead of them. "It's going to be a day of memories for everyone."

"Hopefully happy ones," Ferb added as they resumed their journey. As they walked, he looked to the sky and hoped Phineas had managed to come up with something to do with Isabella that would give them some happy memories of this trip as well.

==========

"Phineas, how much further is this place," Isabella asked, her annoyance level reaching critical mass.

"We're almost there," he reassured her. "You've still got your eyes closed, right?"

"For the fiftieth time, yes."

As soon as they'd gotten off the bus, Phineas had made her promise to close her eyes while he led her by the hand to where they were headed. Much as she enjoyed holding hands with him, being led around blindly was getting on her nerves. Finally, after quite a bit of walking, they came to a stop.

"Okay, you can open your eyes now," he told her.

Isabella opened her eyes and beheld what Phineas had wanted to show her: a crosswalk on a city street. She looked at him as he stood smiling at her, presenting the crosswalk. Then she looked back at it again.

"Whadya think? Impressive to see, isn't it?"

"Phineas…"

"I mean, just look at it Isabella. It's truly amazing to actually see in person."

"…I'm going back to the hotel."

Phineas quickly moved to cut her off. "Whoa, hold on! Don't you like this? I mean-"

"No, Phineas, I don't," she replied, now seething with anger. "We wasted an entire day in London for you to bring me to some random street and show me a stupid crosswalk? We could've gone to see Westminster Abbey or Buckingham Palace or any of about a hundred other amazing things, but this is what you chose? I…I just…"

As Isabella began to break down into sobs, Phineas immediately understood the problem. He looked over and, thankfully, saw a police officer nearby directing traffic. After telling Isabella to stay where she was, he quickly ran over to him.

"Excuse me, officer," he said, approaching the man. "I kinda need a big, huge favor…"

"Say no more, son," the officer said with a knowing wink and smile. "We get these kind of requests all the time. Though, aren't you a bit young to know about this place?"

"Yes. Yes I am," Phineas replied quickly. "I get that a lot."

After thanking the officer, Phineas sprinted back over to Isabella. As the officer directed traffic away from the street, Phineas took her by the hand again and pulled her out into the middle of the street. Then he turned her to look at the crosswalk again.

"Isabella, take another look," he told her, holding her shoulders.

Isabella wiped her eyes and looked up at the crosswalk again, only now from the street instead of the sidewalk. Her heart suddenly leapt. She had seen this scene before, and instantly placed it from one of her father's old record album covers.

"Oh my gosh…" she said breathlessly. "Phineas…this is…"

"Not just any ordinary crosswalk," he said, finishing her sentence for her. He stepped away from her as he went over to one side of the sidewalk and began to sing to her, all the while stepping from line to line as he crossed the street.

"Something in the way she moves,
Attracts me like no other lover.
Something in the way she woos me.
I don't want to leave her now,
You know I believe and how.

Somewhere in her smile she knows,
That I don't need no other lover.
Something in her style that shows me.
I don't want to leave her now,
You know I believe and how.

You're asking me will my love grow,
I don't know, I don't know.
Stick around, and it may show,
But I don't know, I don't know.

Something in the way she knows,
And all I have to do is think of her.
Something in the things she shows me.
I don't want to leave her now.
You know I believe and how."


Isabella quickly met him on the other side of the street as he finished his song. Tears were still stinging her eyes, but these tears weren't born of the sadness and frustration she had felt before. Phineas smiled sheepishly at her and scratched the back of his head nervously.

"I know I could've taken you to any of those other places," he told her. "I just wanted to take you somewhere a little different. Unique people should have unique life experiences, after all."

"I understand now," she replied, drying her eyes quickly. She stepped up to him, pulled him close, and kissed him tenderly on the cheek. "Thank you, Phineas. This meant the world to me."

Before they left they had the police officer take a few photos of them at the crosswalk. After thanking him profusely, they set off to return to the hotel to share their pictures and memories with Ferb and Gretchen from their visit to Abbey Road.

==========

Gretchen hadn't thought it possible to find a view of London more amazing than the one from Tower Bridge, but the sight of the city from the London Eye was proving her wrong. As their car on the giant ferris wheel began to reach its apex there wasn't much of the city she couldn't see. She looked over at Ferb who was also looking at the city, but clearly was thinking of other things at the moment.

"Something on your mind," she asked curiously.

"Just wondering is all," he replied. "I wonder what it's like to be getting married like the prince and his intended tomorrow. Most boys don't really give things like weddings any thought at all. I'd be lying if I said I was any different."

"Well I can't speak for the prince, but I'm sure she's looking forward to tomorrow more than anything else in her life so far. Most girls dream about their wedding day. I'd be lying if I said I was any different."

"So you do want to get married? Someday, that is. And to someone. I mean, not necessarily…"

Gretchen couldn't help but bust up laughing. "Don't worry yourself, Ferb. Like I've said, I'm not Isabella. I'm not looking to tie anyone down so early in my life."

"That is a bit of a relief to hear," Ferb said, laughing a bit as well. "Knowing Isabella, she'd probably quite like it if her marriage to Phineas were already arranged."

"To answer your question, though…yeah. I do want to get married someday. I can't even imagine right now who might be in my future or when we'd get together, but I'm in no hurry to get to that point. Besides, there's so much I want to see and do still. This trip has convinced me that if nothing else that I really need to see the things I've spent so much time reading and learning about. Getting married is all well and good, but I don't want to necessarily get tied down before I'm done with all of that."

"Like my Aunt Tiana and Uncle Bob."

"Yeah, pretty much exactly like that. And by the way, that was one great wedding you guys threw for them too."

"Talk to Candace about it sometime if you like. Though Phineas has also requested she plan his out, so you'll need to coordinate with him for her time."

"I'll keep it in mind. Thanks. And, well…thank you for today too. This has been an incredible day, Ferb. I've had a lot of fun."

"As have I, Gretchen," Ferb replied with a smile and small bow. "And I think tomorrow will be fun as well, despite our needing to dress up for it."

Gretchen giggled again and turned her gaze back to the city, not wanting to worry or scare Ferb with the fact that she was quite looking forward to dressing up, as well as seeing him dress up too. After all, just because she didn't know who she might end up marrying someday didn't mean she didn't already have an idea of someone who might just fit the bill down the road.
Chapter 4 of my personal challenge fic, Royal Rumbling Hearts. I've never actually been to London. All the bits of info I mentioned are courtesy of Wikipedia and Google.

Oh, and the song Phineas sings is Something by The Beatles; which, appropriately enough, is off their Abbey Road album. Look it up if you're not familiar with the song.
© 2011 - 2024 DJLowrider
Comments0
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In