Chapter 29: The Other Children Go Home

Author's Note: Well, believe it or not, here it is- the penultimate chapter of What Could Have Been. Crazy, right? I have had so much fun writing this novelization, and I'm ecstatic that you all are having a fun time reading it.

One thing to note before responding to reviews- the Hippogriff is not related to Harry Potter. I looked it up after publishing the last chapter, and it turns out the Hippogriff is a Greek mythological creature that has the front end of an eagle, and the back part of a horse. JK Rowling just used it for her stories. However, I will not be modifying Chapter 28, as I find Turrislucidus' depiction to be miles better, and more Wonka-esque. Now, with that out of the way, let me respond to your reviews. :)

SuperSentai199, I had a very fun time writing the Loompaland Zoo scene! The Up and Out sequence is always one of my favorite parts of CatCF adaptions as well.

ABBAbethTheHamster, the Rock-Candy Mine actually did appear in the WWatCF/Tom and Jerry crossover, Tom and Jerry: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I do seem to recall Dr. Seuss inventing the word "nerd", but in that case, thanks for reminding me!

mattTheWriter072, as I noted to SuperSentai199, I absolutely loved writing the Loompaland Zoo scene. Glad you enjoyed it! I also enjoyed the gusher scene, and found it interesting that, even though it got scrapped, it later found its way into Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.

emeraldphan, it makes me so happy that you enjoyed the Loompaland Zoo! I also love the Up and Out sequence, no matter which adaption it is.

Sonny April, thanks so much for the reviews! For the Loompaland creatures, you can find them in this Google Doc which I have prepared ( m/docu ment/d/1-q5gVH7A 9ggurG_vUz2xCzK5o2bJrJg6A-nWRuk7Nsg /ed it?usp=sh aring), as the Hornswoggler and Snozzwanger illustrations have since been taken down. As for the Fizzy-Lifting Drinks, as we have been talking about in PMs, I 100% agree. I do wish the event was at least brought up again, and he redeemed himself, or they just visit the room then move on to the next one. It's kind of stupid, if ya ask me.

Luiz4200, please refer to my note above.

And now, it's time for the penultimate chapter of What Could Have Been. Enjoy, everyone.

"Hey, look!" cried Mr. Wonka, still peering down. "There go the other children!"

"Where?" said Charlie and Grandpa Joe together. "Where?"

"By the main gates," Mr. Wonka answered, still peering down. "See them? Let's go a bit closer. I hope they got fixed up reasonably well."

Mr. Wonka manipulated the lever once again, which caused the Great Glass Wonkavator to drop about fifty feet above the factory and stayed hovering there.

"There's Augustus!" Mr. Wonka exclaimed, pointing down. "Augustus Gloop!"

Everyone looked down, and they saw that he was extremely skinny compared to how he was before he entered the factory.

"That's not Augustus!" Charlie cried.

"Oh yes it is!" Mr. Wonka answered. "He's gotten thinner, that's all! Nothing like a good pinch in the pipe for getting thinner! He's about presentable now, isn't he?"

"Is that Violet Beauregarde, that other one?" Grandpa Joe asked. He looked down and saw the girl and her mother together.

"That's right, it is!" Mr. Wonka responded. "Oh my, they've done a nice job there, too! They must've squeezed gallons of juice out of her!"

"And she's stopped chewing!" Grandpa Joe pointed out.

"She'll never chew again!" exclaimed Mr. Wonka triumphantly.

"But she's purple in the face!" cried Charlie Bucket.

"So she is," said Mr. Wonka. "Ah well, there's nothing to be done about that...Where's Veruca Salt? There she is! And dear Mr. Salt."

The three of them looked down. For the most part, they looked the same, but with one minor difference…

"What's that all over them?" Charlie asked.

"That's garbage," responded Mr. Wonka. "You'd have it all over you, too, if you'd been where they have!"

They saw Veruca and Mr. Salt entering a chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce.

"Good gracious me!" cried Grandpa Joe. "Who's that thin giant just behind them?"

(Dahl Note: MIKE TEEVEE and MRS. TEEVEE have come into FRAME

MIKE is as tall as it is possible to make him. (stilts?) )

"It's Mike, Mike Teevee!" Charlie Bucket exclaimed. "I remember his face!"

"So it is!" remarked Grandpa Joe. "What have they done to him?"

"Oh dear, oh dear!" said Mr. Wonka. "They have overstretched him a bit, haven't they? How very careless."

"I feel sorry for him," Charlie said.

"Nonsense," Mr. Wonka responded. "Every basket-ball team in the country'll be trying to sign him on!...See the trucks?"

Charlie and Grandpa Joe looked and saw a line of trucks parked outside the factory.

"That's a lifetime supply of Wonka chocolates and candy for each one of them," said Mr. Wonka. "Remember the promise?"

"Will we get that too, Mr. Wonka?" asked Charlie curiously.

"You!" Mr. Wonka exclaimed. "You'll get something far better than that, my boy! Let's get away from all this and talk about it in peace."

Mr. Wonka manipulated the lever, and off they went, high up into the clouds.

Author's Note: Well, one chapter down, one left. What did you think of this chapter, everyone? As for me, I really liked it, as this was an event that happened in the book. As usual, feel free to leave your thoughts in the review section, and stay tuned for the final chapter of What Could Have Been, which should be published in a few days. Speaking of the final chapter, while I won't reveal anything specific about it, I will say that its ending differs from the book. Stay tuned! :D

Until then,

Gabe S. :)