Title: Pure of Heart

Author: Hellsfire.scythe

Summary: When Charlie turns eleven years old, 'What more does a boy want than a pet?' thinks Willy Wonka. Their trip to a local pet shop brings more surprises than 'just a pet' as competition begins to rear its ugly head. CatCF/PSoH

Time Setting: This is set a little more than one year after Charlie gets into the factory and a bit after volume ten of Pet Shop of Horrors.

What is PSoH? PSoH stands for 'Pet Shop of Horrors'. It's a rather dark manga series, usually classified in the horror category. So if you like the rather dark tales that Tim Burton spins and Johnny Depp acts in, you'd rather like this series.

"Welcome to Chinatown, a mysterious place where rare and valuable commodities from around the world can be found. During your stay, be sure to visit Count D's pet shop, where love and dreams are sold in the form of mythical creatures, but not without a catch. The buyer must adhere to a set of rules, which if broken, may result in death…or worse" – Summary from the back of PSoH Vol. 2

(Spoiler: The series is set in LA's Chinatown. But in volume 10, Count D runs away to somewhere different to get away from police and such.)

The main character in this manga has many similarities to Willy Wonka. Count D is not afraid of giving people what they deserve: love, dreams, riches, fame, or death. But he rather likes interacting with his animals than with humans. So why don't you come in and enjoy the incense and silks. I'm sure you'll find something of your liking here in Count D's pet shop.

Chapter One: Happy Birthday Charlie!

Hmm...everything seemed to be going well today. The Squares that looked Round were looking round. The hair toffee was nearly balanced out (the last Oompa-loompa that tried it got a nice coat of hair all over his body, but one could distinctly tell where the mustache, beard, and hair on top of his head were). His Everlasting Gobstoppers could change flavors every day now, instead of every week, and were due on the market very soon.

Yes, everything in the factory was running very smoothly today. Willy Wonka rose up from behind a rack of clear tubes and glasses that bubbled and fizzed with every color imaginable and pursed his lips at his newest invention...and even that was going smoothly underway (no explosions yet at this stage). He dipped a gloved finger into the concoction and tasted it. 'More snozzberries,' he jotted into a small notebook.

But why did it feel like he was forgetting something?

Oh no, it wasn't an 'I forgot the cherry on top of my float.' It was more like an, 'I forgot to put chocolate in the Chocolate River,' something immensely important but easily remedied. Quickly, he looked out the door of the Inventing Room. The chocolate was in the Chocolate River, so that wasn't the problem. A frown made an appearance on Willy Wonka's face. Now this just wouldn't do. 'What am I forgetting?'

With his cane securely in grasp, Wonka made his way over to the Great Glass Elevator. Several Oompa-loompas grimaced as the sound of a crash echoed through the room. As usual, the man would get up, a bit askew, but unhurt, and the doors to the glass elevator chimed open.

Wonka watched in delight as rooms whizzed by. There was Fudge Mountain! He waved back at the Oompa-loompas hewing away chunks of fudge. The Chocolate Room and its candied hills and plants whizzed by: 'My, the river is running smoothly as well!' Down the elevator dropped, and subsequently jerked to a stop. The glass doors chimed open and Wonka stepped out to his destination.

"Why hello, Doris!"

The said Oompa-loompa looked up from her paperwork and gave Wonka a wave. He stepped closer to the diminutive desk and sat down in front of it, legs crossed in front of his chest. Doris looked up over her horn-rimmed glasses and tapped her manicured fingernails on the surface of her desk.

"I'm forgetting something today, and it's causing me quite the fluster," admitted Wonka. Doris nodded as she noticed the man's fluttering hands were indeed flustered. "What am I forgetting today?"

He watched eagerly as Doris typed something onto her computer. The sound of the printer whirring to life made him start, but Wonka watched as a receipt-sized piece of paper inched out. With a practiced flourish, Doris tore the paper out of the slot and handed it to the man.

Things Mr. Wonka has forgotten to-day, Jan. 14:

-To floss

-To read the mail

-Charlie Bucket's eleventh birthday

"Oh my! It's Charlie's birthday?" exclaimed Wonka, Doris nodded solemnly back at him. "Thank you, Doris. I don't know what sort of trouble I wouldn't be in if it weren't for you." The female Oompa-loompa nodded again and returned to her paperwork.

Wonka leapt to his feet and quickly made his way to the Great Glass Elevator. A crash and a few winces later, the elevator zipped away.

'What to do? What to do? What to do?' Wonka nervously chewed his lip as he tapped his cheek with gloved fingers. The elevator stopped and started again as the mail from the Mail Room dropped through its doors. Oh, there was a letter from his father, Dr. Wonka.

Dear William,

I do hope life is going on all right at the factory for you lately. I dropped a letter by to wish young Charlie a happy birthday and to tell you that my patients are immensely appreciating your no-floss candy chews.

Enclosed are a twenty pound note for Charlie's birthday present, and an appointment time.

Sincerely,

Wilbur Wonka

Carefully, Wonka folded the letter back up and tucked it into the folds of his coat as the elevator took another rocketing leap. Within no time, he was in the entrance hall to the factory. Charlie's family was already there, grandparents and all, awaiting his arrival. Anxiously, Wonka stood next to Mr. Bucket and gave the other man a whimpering grin. Mr. Bucket smiled back.

All eyes were glued to the entrance as young Charlie Bucket burst through the door. Charlie flashed everyone a wire-filled smile (Dr. Wonka had given young Charlie braces on his first appointment, Wonka on the other hand was rather relieved and envious when he found out that Charlie wasn't going to need any sort of cumbersome headgear).

"Hello Mom, hello Dad, hello Grandpa Joe, Grandma Josephine, Grandpa George, and Grandma Georgina," greeted Charlie hugging each of the Buckets. "Hello Mr. Wonka." He wrapped his arms around Wonka's waist and gave the man a quick squeeze.

"How was school, Charlie?" Mrs. Bucket asked. Ever since Charlie came to the factory, Charlie's mother had made it clear that she still wanted young Charlie to continue to go to school. So Wonka had relented to her wishes, and Charlie now received lessons of 'taking care of the factory' during weekends and after homework on weekdays. He peered closer at Mrs. Bucket; her hands were behind her back, as if she were hiding something.

"It was good. But, Ms. Barnes said that I should pick a different animal for my paper to write about instead of a Whangdoodle, because she said that such animals do not exist," Charlie sighed as he shook some snow off of his coat.

"Perhaps you should change the subject. I doubt Ms. Barnes will understand," began Mr. Bucket, but he was rapidly cut off.

A snort sounded from Wonka. "Poppycock and bladderdashes! Of course Whangdoodles exist. They're the reason I brought Oompa-loompas into my factory. Maybe one day I can take you, Charlie, to Loompaland and we can meet a Whangdoodle for ourselves!"

"I'll just turn in two papers, one about Whangdoodles, and the other about a regular animal species. That ought to satisfy Ms. Barnes," Charlie compromised.

His parents glanced at each other, then at Charlie, and then at Wonka before nodding in consent.

Mrs. Bucket shuffled closer to Charlie and bent over so that she was eye-level to the boy. "Charlie, the reason that we are all down here today is because..."

"Happy Birthday Charlie!" shouted out all of his family.

Wonka jumped at the sudden and unexpected chorus. Not to be forgotten he carefully edged further away before giving Charlie a great smile. "Happy Birthday Charlie, my favorite apprentice!" He pulled on a multi-colored tassel that wasn't there before and a shower of confetti and streamers sprinkled down upon the Buckets and Wonka.

A greater smile appeared on Charlie's face as he looked back and forth between his family and Wonka. "Why-why thank you!" gushed the boy, who was now decorated with bits of colorful streamers and paper. The Buckets who were equally decorated smiled back.

Charlie's parents handed him a present, wrapped in colorful paper. Everyone gathered closely around Charlie as he carefully undid the wrapping paper. Wonka watched as Charlie pulled out a brand new book bag. Inside were a bar of Wonka Chocolate, a few books (some educational, some for fun), a sweater, and a small card. The boy's face lit up in pleasure and he nibbled a corner off of the candy bar and read the card. "Thank you, Mom, Dad, Grandpa Joe, Grandma Josephine, Grandpa George, and Grandma Georgina."

Some things never changed. Charlie was still as sweet as he was when he first came into the factory. The boy never over-indulged himself in candy and other sweets, even though he was surrounded by them in the factory. Wonka smiled as he once again crowed inwardly at his correct choice of an heir.

"So what would an eleven year old boy, like for his birthday? Huh Charlie?" asked Wonka eagerly, he bounced on the balls of his feet and waited for Charlie's answer.

Charlie glanced around and then at the ground, he seemed unsure. "Well, Mr. Wonka. I…"

Everything seemed to fade away as Charlie tried to make words come out of his mouth.

Wonka found himself a child again and hearing himself answering his own question.

"May I have a pet, father?"

"What sort of pet?" Dr. Wonka eyed young Wonka with a raised eyebrow.

"A dog?" Wonka could feel his excitement bubbling in his chest. But it was quickly washed away at the look of horror Dr. Wonka's face.

"Now, William, you know I have the most horrible allergies. What do you think a dog or a cat will do?"

No words came from Willy Wonka's brace-lined mouth.

The scene faded away to be replaced by young Wonka peering at a small fishbowl on his desk. A goldfish gaped silently in the water, a few minutes later, it floated belly up, no longer swimming.

"Of course! What more could a young man want than a pet! I'll get you a pet, Charlie! Provided of course, that it doesn't get into any of my candy-making rooms." Wonka looked enthusiastically for Charlie's reaction.

"Really, Mr. Wonka? A pet?" Charlie whispered in awe.

"Yep! Really. No joking."

Charlie looked over to his parents and they glanced at each other, before giving a shrug and a nod. "Yes, I would like that Mr. Wonka. Thank you," replied Charlie in a hushed voice.

"Then what are we waiting for, silly?" giggled Wonka, he grabbed his winter coat off of the wall and headed towards the door. "Lets go get you that pet!"

"A-alright, Mr. Wonka!" Charlie quickly slipped his coat back on and followed Wonka out of the factory doors and out into the snow.

To be continued...