The Bitterness Trilogy

The Bitterness Trilogy a collection of Phineas and Ferb fics. As the title suggests, they are very dark, but not quite serious enough to be considered DarkFics, since they are scattered with many a Crowning Moment of Heartwarming. The stories follow a plot revolving around pre-release interpretations of the alternate dimensional versions of the characters from Phineas and Ferb Across the Second Dimenion.

The first story, entitled The Bitterness of Phineas Flynn, opens with a usual day on the job, the boys go on a mission to stop Doof, his minion Platyborg show up, etc., etc. Unfortunately, Doofenshmirtz had plans on revenge that day and was prepared for them. After being knocked of a high platform, and Phineas swears to avenge him.

It's better than it just sounded. The story sometimes has cheesy writing and contains a lot of homage from Star Wars, but as a whole, is a wonderful story and should tug at your heartstrings and/or tear ducts at least once. And it has an Aesop that may actually be useful to you.

The second story, The Bitterness of Candace Flynn, though significantly shorter, is just as good, if not better than the first. It opens with a Flash Back to a the day tho boy's parents and sister get captured by Doofenshmirtz's minions. We get no indication as to where the parents are, but we do know that Candace joins the dark side. Back in present day, on another usual day on the job, And everything just gets cooler from there.

The third and final story, The Bitterness of the Empire, concludes the series with a bang. A new character, Phineas's long-lost uncle, Phineas Phoebus Flynn, is introduced, battles are fought, tears are shed, lives are lost, and Phineas. Yeah, you heard me right. We won't tell you why, though.

Read the first story here, the second one here, and the final one here.

Tropes relevant to the series as a whole

 * Darker and Edgier:  in the first chapter of the first story, let's start from there.
 * Manly Tears: This is probably the author's favorite trope.
 * Out of Character: Well, this is an alternate universe after all.
 * Physical Scars, Psychological Scars: Phineas gets a scar on his cheek as a reminder of.
 * Shared Universe: Due to Jessie's existence, apparently with First Contact a Gemini Story.
 * The Wiki Rule: It has its own wiki.
 * Would Hurt a Child: Doofenshmirtz would be delighted to hurt and/or kill either of the boys, who are both 10-ish.
 * Not to mention he'd willingly kill anybody in the resistance, who range in age from teenagers to very young children.

Tropes specific to the first story
""Y-you will [make it]," Phineas stammered. "Y-you have to."
 * An Aesop: In the words of the author, "Two wrongs don't make a right, so forgive and forget. It is hard, but you will feel better if you try. Trust me."
 * Break the Cutie: Poor, poor Phineas...
 * Ferb too.
 * Brotherly Love Makes You Evil
 * Berserker Tears: "I will avenge you."
 * Big No: Three. Two by Phineas, one by Jessie.
 * Dead Person Conversation
 * Dead Sidekick
 * Died in Your Arms Tonight: After suffers a fatal fall, he whispers out his last words while being supported in Phineas's lap. He then dies a paragraph later in the emergency aid.
 * Famous Last Words: "Goodbye, brother."
 * I Will Only Slow You Down:
 * I Will Only Slow You Down:

Ferb gave Phineas a sad look. "Just go. Leave me.""

""Ridiculous?!" Phineas responded furiously. "This is Danville!""
 * Intangible Man: Actually averted by, who can sit down on solid objects and is somehow capable of hugging Phineas, who mentally lampshades it but doesn't really care.
 * Jacob Marley Warning: Subverted., but he does not represent this fate himself.
 * Love Confession:
 * Our Ghosts Are Different: ghost pays Phineas a visit to ask him to turn back on his dark decision.
 * Say My Name: "FERB!"
 * Tears of Joy:
 * The Dark Side
 * This Is Sparta: This hilarious Shout-Out:

"[Phineas] had given up hiding his bitterness."
 * Title Drop: Eh, sort of:


 * Troubled Child: To the point that you almost forget that Phineas is only a little older than ten years old.
 * Two stories later he actually

Tropes specific to the second story
"Ferb: "You will not hurt my brother!""
 * Big Brother Instinct: He may be the older one by only a month, but Ferb's still got it strongly.

""You underestimate the power of love," said Phineas. "We still love you, Sis. No matter what, we always will.""
 * Despair Event Horizon: Phineas hits this when.
 * Group Hug: Near the end of the last chapter
 * The Power of Love: Invoked:

Tropes specific to the third story
"", what did you think you were doing?""
 * Axe Crazy: Irving
 * Bungled Suicide:
 * Cry Into Chest: When Jeffville falls, everybody does this to everyone, pretty much.
 * Also happens when.
 * Dark Fic:  officially makes this the darkest story of the three.
 * Driven to Suicide: . Yes,  He lives, though.
 * Interrupted Suicide:


 * Long-Lost Relative: It's never mentiond in the story, but Phineas Phoebus Flynn is Phineas's long-lost uncle.
 * My God, What Have I Done?: This is how Phineas feels after Jeffville's destruction.
 * Name's the Same: Phineas Phoebus Flynn
 * Villainous Crush: Jeremy to Candace (He's a bad guy in this fic)