Hey, peeps here's the chapter we've all been waiting for, sorry it's taken so long!
Review responses.
MattTheWriter072- I'm glad you enjoyed every bit of the previous chapter, I hope the same goes for this one!
Dragonserpent18- Yes indeed I did, don't worry the Oompa Loompas got a good laugh out of it too! Also, I answered your question via Pm, however, I shall answer it for everyone else in the final chapter. Anyway, you shall find out who wins right now!
Softkitty55- Well, you shall find out as soon as you scroll down from the review responses :) For the record, I'm going to be sad to no longer update this too :(
Sonny April- There's no point me in really responding to my review as you have already seen this chapter.
JOHNHAMMOND1993- You may be right, you may be wrong, better read to find out :)
Tristan494-Aw, I'm sorry for your disappointment, however, the answer to your questions is only a scroll away :)
"Therefore, I declare the winner to be…"
"Fernando Cruz!"
Then all of a sudden a bright, almost blinding spotlight shone upon Bryant and Fernando, who in a mixture of shock and confusion found themselves unable to say a single word. That was until Fernando practically squeaked out a nearly inaudible rambled sentence of, "but- but I can't be. I said no."
Charlie directed a small, sad smile towards Fernando as he said, "indeed you did, but you deserve to my heir."
For a moment all Fernando could do was divert his fearful eyes between his father and Charlie, looking desperate for any proof the chocolatier was willing to give.
"What, how, why?" Fernando exclaimed all at once, now vocalizing his necessary questions.
Before Charlie could speak, Samantha got there first. "Because you're the only one out of all of us who haven't caused any trouble today."
"Plus, you showed everyone respect, even if they didn't do the same for you," Eleanor added in a cheerful tone.
Soon afterward Mandy and Steven were also keen to join the discussion session with reasons of their very own.
"You apart from Eleanor were the only one generally interested in the candies made inside the factory," was Stevens contribution.
"Not to mention you haven't been rude to Mr. Bucket at all throughout the entire day," Mandy said with a smile.
"They're right my boy," Bryant said in agreement, Fernando then looked up at him with a hint of a smile to show his appreciation. However, it didn't seem to be enough proof to settle his concerns.
"But how can I be sure I'm even remotely worthy of being your heir? I mean what makes me so different or special from everyone else?" Fernando questioned, his facial features more serious than before.
This time it was Violet's turn to have the first response.
"Well, we all share the same ambition to start a new chapter of our lives as it were, by embracing the changes we need to make and permanently sticking to them."
"Which cannot truly happen until we recognize what we need to do to enforce these changes," Samantha added while giving her mum a smile of encouragement.
"Also, your father told me he wished to have a fresh start with you, away from your mother," Judy said as she turned towards Bryant. Her comment sending a mixture of hot and cold tingles down Fernando's spine as he looked up at his father for the second time, unable to squeak out a single word.
"Plus, being Charlie's heir to the factory is the perfect opportunity to begin that very new journey you both desire in life, one you could truly say you would do all over again if given the chance. Like Charlie would," Violet finished off, earning herself an unexpected look of appreciation from the chocolatier.
After a few seconds of silence, Charlie focused his attention on Fernando who hadn't spoken a word of since beginning the list of reasons why he should be given the prize of the heir.
"So now that you've witnessed some perfectly valid reasons why I and everyone else here feels you should be my rightful heir, I must now ask you, Fernando, do you wish to be my heir?"
Looking around the room to find all eyes were on him Fernando took a few deep shaky breaths in order to calm himself down enough to give him the answer required.
"My answer is yes, I accept the prize to be your heir!" Fernando announced with a bright smile on his face, now convinced he has what it takes to be a good heir to the factory after listening to the much-needed advice.
After each and every person heard what they were extremely keen to hear everyone was about to start celebrating Fernando's victory until an unknown voice made itself known.
"Congratulations dear boy, I just know you will make a great heir!" Were the words spoken by the mysteriously low pitched voice that Charlie couldn't seem to be able to identify who it was, or where it came from.
"Who's there?" Charlie questioned. "You should be aware that trespassing is forbidden under any circumstances, so I strongly suggest you show yourself now and we can say no more about it."
"I'm quite surprised you have no idea who I am," the voice replied from behind the door before the strange figure, whose identity was hidden by a long flowing black cloak revealed itself to be someone more than recognizable to a few people.
"Who is that?" Samantha asked before anyone else could speak of the unexpected visit.
"That's the one and only Willy Wonka," Violet answered, just as shocked as the chocolatier himself at his appearance.
"Well, I'm glad someone seems to recognize me."
For a moment all anyone could do was stare at the sharp and full of life chocolatier in a mixture of disbelief and surprise. Violet and Charlie, in particular, took a while longer to process what was happening.
Despite the years Charlie hadn't seen hide nor hair of him Willy Wonka really didn't look that much different to what he did over forty years ago, except that the roots of his bob hairstyle had hints of gray lingering on the top of his head. His face that displayed the child within still having that youthful look, with only a very few dim marks of what could have been either wrinkles or laugh lines. Looking into those vividly eccentric violet eyes which alone told their own story, Charlie could almost be certain that wherever he had disappeared to, he did for a reason.
However, Charlie still couldn't quite believe that almost nothing had changed about the quirky yet incredibly imaginative man he had and still did look up to. Although, it didn't stop whirlwinds of various thoughts and even emotions that freely circled around his mind, full of hundreds if not thousands of questions he was so very desperate to ask, somehow couldn't find the courage to open up and do so.
Besides, it wasn't the right time even if he did gain the courage to ask.
"Now that I see the lucky nine new faces and one that is shall I say is well known within my factory, I want nothing more than to shake you all warmly by the hand," Willy Wonka said in the childlike tone who Charlie and Violet were both familiar with. Soon after letting out the second part of his introduction, Willy made his way to shake only a few people's hands one by one just like he said he would.
Watching as Mr. Wonka advanced over to three of the five kids and their parents as he held out his hand in a friendly manner, neither Charlie nor Violet could help but turn to briefly look at each other as if to say when you think today couldn't have gotten any more memorable.
Once Mr. Wonka had finished shaking the hands of Mandy, Steven, and Eleanor, he then turned around to greet the remaining people he wanted to take a moment to
"First I must congratulate you, dear boy!" Willy declared as he walked excitedly up to Fernando and his father. "I'm so glad you won, I really am. You know you share a lot of the same redeemable qualities as Charlie, his kindness, his attentiveness, his honesty and not to mention a kind heart."
"Thank you," Fernando replied just when Willy Wonka moved onto Bryant.
"You're his father, I know. So, sir, I must say that at the beginning I thought you were a hideous man, and not just personality wise." Bryant chuckled at Willy's statement, knowing all too well of how loathsome he was to deal with back in those grim times.
"However, now that I've seen beyond your nasty, appearance inflictive ways, I honestly believe you're going to make positive contributions in the future." Willy finished off with exhilaration present in his tone of voice.
Soon after his short talk with Bryant, Willy Wonka spent a few seconds just staring at the wall before landing his gaze at the Beauregarde's, who were just as unsure of what to expect than the others beforehand.
Not that she had to wait long for an answer to her inquiry.
"Why hello Miss Violet Beauregarde, long time no see." Willy greeted her with a smile she didn't recall seeing before. She could almost say it was a genuine one rather than the series of forced ones she received as a child.
"Mr. Wonka," Violet politely replied in response to his greeting.
"And you. You must be her daughter Samantha Beauregarde. Though I must say I never imagined the little 'champion' I once had hugging me would one day become a mother." Willy blurted out with air quotation marks when saying the word champion just before adding in a whisper to Violet's ear, "but for the record, you're a better one."
Both Violet and Samantha gave him a look of gratitude as a substitute for their lack of words.
"So now that the introductions are out of the way, I have a surprise for you dear children. All of you!"
"What's that?" Samantha asked, being the one to vocalize what everyone was thinking.
"Well," Mr. Wonka began with one of his mischievous grins, " I thought since the ticket winners of the previous tour didn't get to be escorted home by trucks with their lifetime supply of chocolate, this time my promise to you shall be fulfilled but with a tiny twist inside."
Before anyone could question on what this tiny twist would consist of the room suddenly became brighter, then out of nowhere a spotlight shined into view which at first blinded some of the guests due to its intense volume of light.
"Brace yourselves people!" Willy Wonka said just as a couple of Oompa Loompas set up the platform of where the bad nuts would usually be tossed so it looked like some sort of stage. Once everything was where it needed to be the same pair of Oompa Loompa went to stand either side of the squirrels as if to keep them calm.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby give you your well and truly earned surprises!" Was all Mr. Wonka had to say to fully
"Bernard Perkins, step forward." A voice that sounded identical to Willy Wonka's but in a lower pitch announced through two speakers which the group only just realized were on either side of them.
"Daddy!" Mandy cheered to her flabbergasted father as he stepped out towards them with his mouth practically wide open at his daughter's affectionate greeting.
"Who are you and what have you done with my daughter?" Bernard asked with shaky breathes in between, as if he was talking to an actual alien.
"Dad!" Mandy giggled, "I am your daughter, but an upgraded and better version of her." Judy smiled at her husband as an extra gesture to assure him that what she said was indeed the truth.
Satisfied, Bernard walked up to where the two girls stood, gracefully accepting the enthusiastic opened armed hug Mandy offered once he went and stood next to Judy, chuckling softly at the remarkable changes he witnessed.
"Next please!" Willy Wonka shouted.
"Tanya and Darren Fox, step forward."
"Mom, dad?" Steven questioned in a raspy voice, shocked that for once in what seemed his entire existence neither parent held any sort of gaming gadget in their hands.
"Steven, we are so sorry son. Me and your father were so tangled up in our foolish game play that we didn't realize what was going on in the real world. So we're going to do what we should have done a long time ago," Tanya nervously admitted, being the first out of the two to speak up.
"To prove it we're going to throw these damn pests in the trash," Darren said, his serious tone of voice surprising the blue haired boy.
Immediately after speaking, as if on cue two squirrels scuttled towards the Fox couple, one at each parent's side. After hearing a small squeak from the squirrel beside Darren, both parents fished out their formerly loved game controllers from their pockets and handed them to the squirrels.
Then in a matter of seconds, both the squirrels chucked the objects down on the platform where they slid straight into the entrance to the incinerator, never to be seen again. All four members of the Fox family let out huge sighs of relief, as the clanking sound of the game controllers hitting the bottom of its destination created a peaceful tune ringing in their ears.
"And that's the way it's staying," confirmed both the Fox parents, earning themselves a speechless wide smile from Steven.
"Turns out some people are able to escape from those terrible televisions after all," Willy Wonka commented just as he sent in the next person.
"Arnold Mai, step forward."
"Eleanor," Arnold said in a calm but cheerful way, doing his best to walk in a stable manner despite using his walking stick.
"Uncle, I didn't expect to see you!" Eleanor exclaimed as she lead her uncle to where Fiona was. The three of them then took a moment to look at Mr. Wonka to thank him for his kindness. Willy only nodded in response as if he had something entirely different on his mind.
"Now it's time for the tricky part," Willy whispered to the Oompa Loompa stood next to him who acknowledged his words with a simple nod.
Although their whispered conversation was only meant for the two of them, Fernando heard everything that was said. It didn't take them long to realize what they truly meant.
"Christina Cruz, step forward." At that very moment, everyone turned to look at Fernando and Bryant, many of them including Eleanor sending the two of them glances of empathy as if they were already familiar with Christina.
"What do you think you're doing, get your putrid hands off me you pint sized pugs!" Came a hollered exclamation from the final parent to enter the room, which seemed darker than before.
After hearing her unnecessary shouting, the room abruptly became colder as Christina slowly walked up to where her long suffering husband and son skittishly stood. Her rage infested dark chocolate brown eyes not once leaving theirs, creating a rather disturbingly uncomfortable vibe within the room and the people who were unlucky enough to share it. Her facial expression was one that radiated the intense lack of sympathy and general emotional care her facial features saw no problem displaying, not even slightly relenting at the tiniest scale for the other members of the Cruz family.
Even Willy Wonka who had never been a fan of the company of other people could sense the monstrous wrath of hostility that lingered around her. In fact, it was safe to say she reminded Willy a lot of his father and how his hatred against candy affected their relationship while growing up. Mr. Wonka and his father may have briefly reconciled, but it didn't mean the many ways he had tortured him throughout his childhood seem any less daunting to this very day than what they were years ago.
That was something he and Fernando shared just between them, which in a way brought a sense of comfort to the elderly chocolatier.
Willy was soon snapped out of his thoughts when the sound of Christina's high heels sharply clacking against the floor made him wince as if the noise they produced an insight to the power fixated person she was. Once her high heels came to a silent stop Christina swiftly tossed her hair away from her front, causing it to slap the back of her tightly fitted red corset dress.
"Ugh!" Christina yelled, those already fury filled eyes widening in horror at the sight of her custard covered husband and son while pointing a disgusted finger at their messy appearance. "Don't you realize that Fernando is supposed to be modeling at the Paris fashion ceremony in less than twelve hours time!"
"The shows off," Bryant replied, his voice and facial expression firm. Realizing now was the time which decided whether or not their wish of starting afresh would be granted.
"Off?!" Christina loudly repeated with an increasingly sharp glare she gave her husband deepening until they resembled black holes in space.
Despite the slight twitch of fear that raced through every inch of his body, Bryant's solid look of solemnity remained unfazed. "As in sod. He's not attending it."
"Bryant, Ricardo Cruz," Christina scoffed as she walked a couple of steps closer towards him until she was only mere inches away from being face to face, with her arms tightly folded and a seething scowl.
"I did not spend nine months of my life going through a fat piling pregnancy and a further eleven years building him up from a puny screaming runt, for a career in modeling just so you could spout out utter twaddle about jacking it in, just hours before the most important night of my life!"
Fernando could almost feel his mother's head snap towards him, "And you are not to put a single foot wrong do you hear? I will not have you destroy everything I have worked my socks off to provide for the family name, nor will you go against my orders and muck up this big day I've desired, and quite frankly deserved for many years from having to put up with you and your foolish father!"
A few of the guests muttered various things about Christina's appalling behavior, while others shook their heads in utter rage and odium.
"Fernando is not a possession!" Bryant argued back which caught everyone's attention, being careful not to shout for the sake of his son. "He is not a puppet you can force strings upon and pull for your own pleasure, he is a human being with thoughts and feelings that when hurt can bruise and leave scars, which you don't seem to have yet taken into account."
Christina then let out the most hideous, scornful laugh that echoed across the entire room. Once the laughing stopped she then resorted to once again folding her arms and glared at Bryant to show she wasn't going to tolerate his ridiculous behavior.
"You know I've always thought of you as a dim witted buffoon and nothing more, so all that pointless rambling means absolutely nothing to me," Christina said in a quieter voice, though it didn't make her any more pleasant to deal with.
Bryant shook his head hopelessly. "I can't believe you."
"Enough of this nonsense!" Christina yelled before focusing her unwanted attention to her son. She then said in a hasty tone of voice "you are coming with me right now, we have a lot of work to do if you're ever going to be a success for me boy," along with snapping her fingers impatiently as if Fernando was her slave.
But Bryant wasn't having any of it. "Hang on-"
However, he was suddenly interrupted from saying anything else when Fernando let out a small statement of "it's okay dad," along with touching his shoulder before doing the unthinkable. All the others could do was watch with bated breath as the Fernando steadily walked down to where his mother was standing, who didn't stop until he was only able to look into her unflinching eyes and nothing else.
"I'm not going anywhere with you," were the first words out of Fernando's mouth, neither his face or speech showing any signs of fear, shocking both Christina and the others watching him from behind.
"Are you defying me, Fernando Cruz?!"
"Yes."
"What have you been teaching him!" Christina demanded, shooting withering scowls between Bryant and the two chocolatiers. "I did not bring him up to disrespect me in any way shape or form!"
"No mother, you brought this disrespect on yourself."
Christina scoffed in disbelief. "Oh really, and how's that?" When she was met with silence a few people began to panic for Fernando's sake. "No, do go on boy. I would love to know how I've brought such insolence on myself."
"You just don't get it, do you? My father and I have for years been forced under your thumb, ridiculed for every silly little mistake that we unintentionally make because of the insane amount of pressure you put us under, in order for the modeling career to satisfy only your own needs."
Christina let escape a humorless chuckle, " and what would you have without it? That's right, NOTHING!"
"I've been chosen to be Charlie Bucket's heir to this entire factory mother," Fernando gently admitted, earning himself a look of disapproval from his mother. "And I'm not giving that up for a modeling career I have no wish to lead in life."
"You cannot just give up on everything I have done for this family!" Christina shouted, leading her son to do what he needed to do for his own peace of mind.
"I'm sorry mother but I'm taking this life changing opportunity with or without your support. My father managed to change his ways and despite everything you have put us through I was hoping you would too. On the other hand, if this is how you're going to remain then I'd rather it was just me and my father, permanently."
The whole of Christina's body shook with rage as well as letting out huge angry huffs. "Well good luck then," she spat just before turning to Bryant. "You shall regret this day, just you wait!"
Then all of a sudden everyone began to clap and cheer just as Christina began to make her exit. Then within an instant, everyone advanced over to Fernando to wrap him in one huge complimentary hug to display the pride that at that very moment words failed to provide.
However, the celebrating was soon cut short when screaming was heard from the distance. Turning to feast their eyes on what was going on, every member of the group were shocked to find Christina being the second person today forcefully tackled to the ground by the feisty group of squirrels that until now had sat so still you would have thought they were statues.
Christina who had now resorted to attempting to stomp on a few of the bushy tailed beasts (well as close to stomping as high heels would allow,) soon found herself completely defenseless against them. But unlike last time the gang of squirrels wasted no time in completing Christina's journey to the same grim fate as Veruca Salt. Grabbing her by the arms and legs Christina felt herself being helplessly dragged to the unknown destination she was to arrive at in a matter of seconds.
"Oh wow, they have gotten better. They didn't even need to test her!" Willy Wonka exclaimed with joy.
"Test her? What do you mean by that?" Bryant questioned, who only got the short answer of "all in good time" in response.
Deciding to try her luck to rescue herself from certain doom by digging into the platform with her claw like nails, her efforts soon proved wasted when realizing she was being tipped to her left-hand side before sliding down the inescapable passage way with a high pitched scream.
Once the drama was over Violet stepped up and asked, "excuse me, where does that hole down there actually lead to?"
"It goes to the garbage chute," Willy replied even though he knew more questions would come his way.
"But the chute must lead somewhere?" Fernando inquired.
"Well it goes to the incinerator, but the incinerator isn't lit on a Wednesday so she will have today's rubbish to rely on for a safe exit. That's unless she's been taken to the recycling unit."
"Can't you find out which direction she has been sent down?" Eleanor asked.
"Not necessarily, but let's put it this way, it was one of them," Willy replied with a laugh.
When seeing Fernando's worried facial expression Wonka sought to reassure him.
" But don't worry dear boy just for you, I shall send one of the Oompa Loompas to ensure that she comes out safe and sound."
"Thank you," Fernando replied with a thankful smile, one which Wonka had no trouble returning.
"Right then, I think we've done all we needed to do so…" Willy Wonka then unexpectedly found himself unable to produce the rest of his sentence, leaving Charlie to finish it off for him.
"What I think he's trying to say that this is the official end of the tour."
When the atmosphere was filled with a painful heart-wrenching silence Willy Wonka who had seemed to have recovered himself was quick to add, "but the good news is that each and every one of you will be allowed back to the factory any time you like!"
His much-needed statement was met with a few cheers and many more uplifting smiles. Both Wonka and Charlie then walked over to a particular part of the floor, there nonapparent reason confusing the others.
"People, we must all get in this very spot on the ground, so come on in," Wonka instructed as he gestured for the group to squeeze on the spot he and Charlie were stood on. Tapping his cane just mere inches away from Charlie's right foot, they are all suddenly teleported to the very corridor the guests had walked along during their first hour in the factory.
"What was that?" Steven asked once everyone proceeded to walk along the last corridor they would be setting foot on.
"Teleportation tile, one of the best ways to get around the factory, though no other method of transport can come even remotely close to my flying glass elevator."
"Right," Steven concluded.
During the time it took to walk along the corridor Bryant and Mr. Wonka were already talking about the new arrangements for him and Fernando, the remaining adults were engaged in their own conversations which left the kids to talk amongst themselves with only one subject in mind.
"I never thought I would be sad to leave this place," Steven begun, officially beginning the series of confessions.
"I can't believe I didn't demand for my mother to buy the entire factory, I guess I was never told how silly I was acting till now."
"You're not the only one Mandy," Samantha commented while pointing to herself. "I think we all needed a reality check one way or another," the others nodded in agreement.
Before any of them could say anything else Charlie beat them to it. "I just want to say that it's been a pleasure to have held this tour for all of you and to have witnessed just how far each and every one of you have come, however, as do all good things it is time to say our farewells as this is, as they say, is it."
The guests wordlessly nodded just as Willy Wonka guided them to the door where the trucks of their lifetime supply of chocolate were waiting for them.
The Perkins were the first ones to leave, and just as Mandy got herself ready to go, Eleanor ran up to her.
"Here Mandy, your coat!" But when she went to give back her tiger skin coat Mandy stopped her.
"You can keep it," Mandy reassured before shortly adding when turning to make her exit, "I have plenty more at home."
Next to leave was the Fox family. And just as Mandy did, Steven also had something to say.
"Thank you, for everything. I promise all of you that when we meet again I shall be a completely different person."
"We will look forward to witnessing it," Charlie replied.
Just before leaving Steven turned to address Fernando for the final time, "see you around Nando."
And with that, the Fox family were also escorted to the truck that was to take them home. Then the third and the noticeably final truck pulled over to the front of the factory just as the previous two had done, but this time with the name Mai written on the back.
As Fiona and Arnold gathered up both her own and Eleanor's things with the help of Violet, Eleanor first went over to Fernando to embrace him in a hug. "I'm happy you won," was all she said before planting a soft kiss on his cheek for good measure.
Once she broke the hug she then went over to Samantha, also to embrace her in a hug but for a different reason. "You might not have won the prize, but you're a winner in our eyes."
"As are you," Samantha softly replied, her brown eyes twinkling with a hint of moisture.
Just as Eleanor and Fiona were to head off home, Eleanor suddenly turned around to face Charlie one last time. "Goodbye, Mr. Bucket." This left Charlie having to force the pesky lump which had kept bothering him on and off for the last hour or so as he said his own farewell.
Just as they were to leave Violet patted Charlie on the shoulder, "forgive me but there doesn't seem to be a truck for me and Samantha to travel in?"
"That's because you and Samantha shall be traveling with us," Willy answered as he pointed to the glass elevator that had also been waiting outside the whole time.
Violet could only grin as she, Samantha, Bryant, Fernando and the two chocolatiers all got inside the elevator, then within moments of pressing a button, they were as high as the planes in the sky, or perhaps slightly higher.
"We better get going as we have a lot to discuss when we get back!" Willy said just as a muffled shout caught everyone's attention. It was soon discovered that Christina who had earlier been unfortunate enough to get on the wrong side of the squirrels had emerged from having been sent down the rubbish chute. Piles of stinking, revolting rubbish were piled from her head all the way down to her feet, she then looked up at flying glass elevator with a look of disgust when seeing Bryant and Fernando who refused to look at her.
"Don't worry my boy, it's just going to be you and me now," Bryant whispered to Fernando before pulling him into a hug which he happily accepted. Though they didn't notice Violet and Samantha sharing a beam of delight between them in response to their sentimental moment.
"Like what they said, it's just going to be you and me but in a better state of mind," Violet said, now having taken what little time they had left in the elevator for their own little sentimental moment.
Then before they knew it the elevator had landed right outside the Beauregarde's front door. While Samantha quietly waved goodbye to the two chocolatiers and the Cruz family, Violet couldn't bear to leave in silence.
"Thank you, Charlie, for everything you and your incredible chocolate factory have taught me today." Like Eleanor had done to Samantha, Violet then gave Charlie a farewell hug as well as a hug for Mr. Wonka, who this time didn't flinch at her touch before stepping out of the elevator.
But it was when Violet was about to unlock the front door that Samantha spotted something different about her. "Mom!" she joyfully cried, "look at your hair, your face, they aren't blue."
Rushing inside the house, Violet sprinted to the nearest mirror to see that indeed what Samantha had told her was true. Uncaring of the fact tears were running down her cheeks Violet looked up at the ceiling as if to secretly thank the two chocolatiers for the overwhelming miracle.
Meanwhile back at the elevator Charlie also had unfinished business to sort out with the older chocolatier.
"Willy Wonka, I need to ask why you left me for so many years?"
Willy Wonka then turned to look at Charlie straight in the eyes, his facial expression serious yet so kind. "Because I wanted you to realize that you had what it takes to be a great heir, which you've proved yourself to be!"
Charlie tilted his head in confusion. "So were you watching over me this entire time? Did you specifically plan all this out for this very day?"
Willy Wonka gave him a silent nod in response, which lead him to spill out a much-required confession.
"Charlie, I never left you alone, I was always watching you closely. Even when you sent out those five golden tickets in search for you own heir I was close by, in fact, I think it's even safe to say that I did have an input of who those tickets went to."
Wonka then diverted his eyes to Fernando and his father as well as towards where they had taken the Beauregarde's home. "I wanted you to teach those kids how important family really is, just as you taught me over forty years ago Charlie Bucket." Wonka had to take a moment to wipe his eye with one finger of his gloved hand.
"You did all that for me?" Was the last question Charlie could manage to speak out before he and Willy Wonka had a hug of their own.
Neither man spoke until the elevator landed outside the factory door. Both men took a glance at Charlie's new heir and his heir's father before Willy patted Charlie's shoulder, being careful not to let Fernando nor Bryant hear what he was about to say.
"Now I want you to pass everything I've taught you throughout the years of you being my rightful heir onto Fernando, who I know will be just as virtuous as you."
"Yes Mr. Wonka," Charlie obeyed in total agreement before turning around to see that had vanished.
Shaking himself out of his thoughts Charlie suddenly clapped his hands with enthusiasm. "Right Fernando, we have so much time and so little to do. Oh wait, strike that, reverse it! So without further ado, let's get down to business!"
As Fernando and his father were shown to the projection room Charlie couldn't help but smile to himself at how well everything had turned out in the end.
Now that he was certain he was good enough to run the factory, the future with his new heir in tow couldn't have been sweeter.
Don't forget peeps, there is still one more chapter to go. Well, it's more of an epilogue, but it's still technically a chapter so hey ho!
The final chapter will be out in just a few days, so I'll see you then!