Total Drama Endless, Episode Seventeen
...
...
It takes everyone a moment to adjust their surroundings. Even after all the times they did it with Conner, The sensation of being plucked from one place and placed down in another is still jarring. Be it by the push of a button or the will of Aslan.
When the final ten contestants find their bearings, they find they're standing in an alleyway. The buildings surrounding them are built of red masonry and the sky above is overcast. A single long trail of puffy white smoke billow into it from a large chimney down the road. They seem to be in an industrial town, perhaps in the Ruhr Valley or the Midlands of England. The only thing amiss is the air, which rather than being heavy with the smell of grime and chemicals instead carries the sweet and unmistakable scent of chocolate.
"Well Lenny you're the expert." Indy says turning to his old teammate. "Another place you recognize?"
"I believe it just might be." Letsplay Lenny says, flashing Jones the grin that never leaves his face. "And, I think Princess Peach has the right idea on how to find out where to go."
Sure enough, Peach has her nose to the air, sniffing around curiously.
"Hmm where to you think that lovely smell's coming from?"
"Over there." Yao shouts pointing to the factory.
"Wait a minute, wait a minute." Doof urges. "Let's check are tickets before we get..."
He trails off, the others have already rounded the corner to the main road and dashed out of sight.
"…ahead of ourselves." He sighs. "Of course, no one listens to me. I'm just the scientist."
He jogs out of the alley and down the road, where the others are gathered around the factory's iron gate. Large stone walls keep most of the building from view, but they can hear machinery whizzing and whirling inside.
"You know last time we all appeared in an alleyway and blindly ran to the nearest point of interest we ran into an evil clown." Doof pants. "And by evil, I mean evil in the bad way."
"Ay yo that was different." Markus insists. "Gotham was sketchy as **** man. This place though…" He smells the air and smiles. "…Good vibes my ******."
"Can we at least check our tickets?" Doof asks.
The ten of them take out their golden tickets, reading them more closely.
WONKA
GOLDEN TICKET
DATE TIME PLACE
Feb 1st 10am (Sharp) Front Gate
As they finish reading somewhere in town a clock chimes ten.
"You think someone would be here by now." Indy says.
"HALT!"
They turn to the source of the cry. A policeman in an old fashion blue cap and uniform is storming over to them. Face obscured by a heavy beard and dark sunglasses.
"What you people doing loitering here? This is private property."
He rushes over to them, his movements odd and jerky, particularly with his head which is darting around, seemingly taking in everything about the group standing before them.
"Don't you know Mr Wonka's expecting guests? Can't have you vagrants scaring them off, can we?"
"Well you never believe it but we're his guests." Indy says, a little sarcastically. The Policeman scoffs.
"I hardly believe that! You're all far too old to be guests of the famous Willy Wonka. Except you two children and that pet alligator you have there."
"Hey!" Shout the Shorty Squad.
"With all due respect officer, Doctor Jones is telling the truth." Lenny says pleasantly "We really are here for the factory tour. We've even got the Golden Tickets and everything."
"Have you? Let me see?" The officer says suspiciously. They all flash him their tickets. The policeman squints and rubs his hairy chin. Then without warning he snatches Markus's ticket sniffs it, furrows his brow, then probes it with his tongue.
"Uh… Officer? I don't want to start no altercation, but may I ask what the **** you're doing?" Markus asks.
"Testing that this ticket is genuine. And to my great astonishment it is!" The policeman proclaims. Markus laughs.
"****** how would you know that ****?"
"Because my good man, I was the one Wonka trusted to make it and it's nine lovely sisters over there."
"And why would this Wonka fellow trust you of all people to make his Golden Tickets?" Bentley asks. The officer chortles.
"Why who else would he trust!?"
And he tears off his beard, revealing it to be a fake, then flings off his cap and coat. Now that his disguise has been shed the man before them is a thin man with bright eyes and sandy hair, wearing a plum velvet overcoat, top hat, bottle green pants, floral waistcoat and a lavender bow tie.
"And now that I know it's really you welcome friends!"
He breaks into a bow so low he falls forward and rolls into a somersault, grabs a golden cane from an unassuming snow bank then springs up in front of them, spreading his arms wide.
"You are in the presence of the world-renowned Willy Wonka, one and only owner operator of the factory behind you." He proclaims. "Terribly sorry about all that police business. Had to be sure you were my honest and true guests of honour after all."
"You must have been hot wearing all those layers." Yao muses.
"Horrifically so!" Willy Wonka says wiping his brow. "Though now that I've shed some of them, I'm feeling a chill. Come! Let's not waste any more time standing around! It's nice and warm inside my factory."
As if by command the iron gates swing open and he leads them all through a paved courtyard and up to the great red doors of the factory. He knocks once and they too open for him, and they find themselves walking down a tall, pink hallway that leads off as far as the eye can see.
"Mr Wonka, it's kind of you to host us." Indy says. "I suppose we should explain the circumstance of why we're here-"
"It's Wonka." Wonka interrupts. "And no need to waste your breath my good fellow. Your host Mr O'Gleeson and I have already made all the arrangements. The ten of you will go on a tour of the factory here, lead by myself of course. Then once we're done one of you will be eliminated from your TV game and the rest will be free to go their merry way."
Indy raises an eyebrow. "Just a factory tour? No month-long mystery?"
"No several weeks at sea?" Bentley asks. Wonka laughs.
"Of course not. I haven't the time for that. This factory's an active work environment you know?"
"And what sort of factory is this per say?" Athena asks.
"Haven't you figure it out by now? This is a chocolate factory my dear."
Peach gasps.
"Chocolate? I love chocolate!" She says excitedly. Wonka nods.
"Yes, I find a great many people do. That's how I stay in business." He smiles. "That, and the fact that I make the greatest sweets in this or any other world."
"You sure about that dude?" Amethyst smirks. "I mean I've had Honeydukes."
Lenny chuckles. "Trust me Amethyst. If there are any sweets that could out class Honeydukes, it'd be Wonka's."
…
Their new host is kind enough to let everyone freshen up before the tour's official start. After nearly a month aboard a medieval cog everyone's happy to see indoor plumbing again. Even Yao who was from a preindustrial society to begin with had grown accustom to sinks and faucets aboard Conner's ship, and was glad to have them back.
Markus waits by the door to the woman's washroom for his fellow Flower Girls. When Peach finally emerges she's back in her pink ballgown.
"Yo Peachy what gives?" He asks. "I thought you liked your other dress? And your cloak?"
"I do very much. But they're adventuring clothes Markus. Since we're with more polite company today I thought I'd wear my royal gown. It is more dignified after all." She winks. "Just provided Mr Wonka doesn't see the tear in the back."
Markus smirks at his old friend. "For real though speaking of dignified, you think you can keep a straight head on today? This ****** Wonka can be crafty, and I don't want you goin' all Pinata Island on us again."
Peach giggles.
"Markus how many times must I tell you? That Princess Peach is gone. This Princess Peach has a lot more self control. I have to worry about my reputation as a Princess after all."
"Right now! Everyone ready?" Wonka shouts. The contestants murmur in agreement. Wonka beams.
"Splendiferous! Now friends, one tiny, minuscule, ittsy, bitsy, last thing before we embark. I'm going to need you to buddy up, just so no one gets lost on the tour."
The group immediately start breaking off into pairs. Some are obvious like Markus and Peach, others less so like Indy and Lenny.
"Hey Beatrice! Do you need a buddy?" Doof offers. Beatrice winces.
"Thanks for the offer doc, but I was actually thinking of buddying with Yao."
"Yao?" Doof says surprised. "Why him? He tried to vote you out less than an hour ago."
She lowers her voice. "Uh yeah. why do you think I'm cozying up to him?"
"Ooooooooh. That's smart of you."
"Thanks." Beatrice says, humbly. "…For a lot actually. I wouldn't still be here if it wasn't for you sticking up for me."
"Hey, don't mention it." Doof smiles and tussles her hair, she bats his hand away.
"Don't do that."
"Right. My bad."
She goes off to flag Yao down. Doof looks around. Amethyst and Athena have just paired up leaving his only possible buddy as…
"Looks like it's the two of us again doctor." Bentley says, walking over to him with a smile. Doof stares at the turtle in confusion.
"Again? When have we hung out?"
"When we went to go visit Total Drama Cruise with the interns."
"Did we? I feel like I would have remembered that." He blinks. "And hey! Wait a minute, you're the one who got Perry the Platypus eliminated aren't you?"
"I may have had a hand in that. Although I assure you it wasn't personal or anything." Bentley says. "But anyway! That's all water under the bridge now. What do you say we go make some better memories ay amigo?"
"Yeah… sure." Doof says unenthusiastically. Bentley frowns.
"You rolled your eyes when you said that."
"No I didn't."
"You just did it again!"
"Who's got a buddy?" Wonka interjects. "Some of you? All of you? Perfect! Simply Perfect! Now my esteemed and most wonderful guests, our tour begins at last! Follow me!"
And he rushes off down the hall, waistcoat flapping behind him as the others jog after them. Soon enough Wonka darts off to the right to a narrower corridor, then he turns left.
Then left again.
Then right.
Then left.
Then right.
Then right.
Then left, once more. Leading further and further into the labyrinthine complex.
"I notice all these passages are sloping downward." Athena observes.
"Of course!" Wonka says. "The bulk of my factory is underground. I've all the space in the world down here. Anytime I need a new wing I simply hollow it out."
"Hey that's good lair design." Doof says. Wonka smiles proudly.
"Thank you sir. Ah! Here we are at last! Our first stop on the tour."
They've arrived at a large metal door. On the door reads in large bold letters, The Chocolate Room.
"This, my friends, is the heart and soul of my dear business. It's where my imagination becomes reality."
"Would you say then it's a world of pure imagination?" Lenny beams. Wonka beams back.
"I'd say that's an excellent term for it."
"Oh boy…" Lenny says rubbing his hands together excitedly. "You might have to tie down your princess Markus."
"Why?" Peach asks, suddenly intrigued. "What's in there?"
"See for yourself." Wonka says, and he opens the door. Several jaws fall open.
They're staring down at and expansive valley of lush vegetation. Thick green grass and vibrant flowers grown in several meadows and willows dip down along the banks of a river of rich brown liquid. On the other side of the valley an entire waterfall flows into it, churning and frothing the river below. Peach lets out a wonderstruck gasp.
"Is that!?"
"Chocolate!" Wonka cries. "Everything in this room is entirely candy or chocolate."
Peach shrieks in delight. The others turn and give her an amused look. She blushes.
"I mean… How charming."
Wonka leads them down into the expansive room. Passing through it, they see that on closer inspection that the bushes are made of lollipops and candy sticks, the flowers are sugar and chocolate, and the trees are blooming with gummies. Peach stares around at everything, eyes wide as saucers. Amethyst and Yao too seem to be drooling.
Wonka stops in the middle of a candy field and gives them an odd look.
"My, you are a strange bunch aren't you?"
"What?" Yao asks.
"Well, isn't anyone going to say anything about my chocolate room?"
"It is beautiful." Athena says.
"It smells incredible." Peach sighs.
"…and it tastes much better." Wonka insists. Peach stares at him.
"You mean…"
"I wouldn't have brought you all in otherwise, princess."
Peach makes a sharp squeal of absolute elation then goes barreling off, only to return again a moment later.
"I mean. Thank you!" She rushes off again yipping and cheering, as do Yao and Amethyst. The others are a little more restrained as they too begin to sample everything around them. Wonka wasn't bluffing. Everything from the grass, to the trees to the flowers are made of some of the tastiest sweets any of them have ever tried.
"How's everything tasting?" Wonka asks, as Indy and Athena try a pair of daffodils made of spun sugar.
"Well enough. But I thought you said you were taking us somewhere important? This looks like a showroom." Indy says.
"Oh no sir! I'd never lie to my guests like that. Cross my heart sir, I very sincerely assure you this is the most important room in the factory. See those pipes?" He gestures up to the sky-coloured ceiling from which several glass pipes hang. "These pipes transport chocolate from here to just about anywhere in the factory. And there's my waterfall! Don't be fooled by looks sir! It's important too! See it churns and mixes my chocolate. We're the only people in the world that mix our chocolate by waterfall! Makes all the difference in taste as you can surely tell."
"No kidding. And it looks nice too." Doof muses, walking over to them. "You've got a real eye for aesthetic Wonka. You know that?"
Wonka grins and tips his hat to Doof.
"You honour me sir. I'm glad you like it! Some of you perhaps much more than others."
Their eyes drift to Peach as she ravenously shovels the gooey innards of a candy mushroom into her mouth, either unaware or not caring that she's ruining her white evening gloves.
"She's very… passionate about sweets." Athena says slightly awkwardly.
"AGGGGH!"
A scream draws their attention. The four of them rush over to Yao. The man's suddenly tensed up, pointing with one of his stubby fingers at something across the river from them. They look where he's pointing. Five tiny little men and women no bigger than dolls and staring back at them. Their wide eyes partially obscured by their long, tangled hair. Doof gasps.
"Wonka, you never said you had minions!"
"What are they?" Yao asks. "Namman? Penghou?"
"They're my employees!" Wonka explains. "My wonderful little Oompa-Loompas! Imported directly from Loompaland."
"Loompaland?" Indy asks.
"Ah, ah, ah! I know what you're going to say. You're thinking you've never heard of such a place so it surely doesn't exist."
Indy chuckles. "Wonka I've discovered enough hidden societies that I've learned not to doubt such a thing."
"Oh… Well good then! I admire your open-mindedness sir!"
"So where is this Loompaland exactly? The Amazon? The Congo?" Indy asks. Wonka coughs awkwardly.
"It's not important. Just know it's a terrible country! Wild and savage, with all sorts of terrible snozzwanglers and whangdoodles. The poor Oompa-Loompas were practically being gobbled up a dozen at a time. Now they're happy and safe inside my factory, working for their wages of cocoa beans."
"You don't pay them real money?" Indy asks.
"Why would I? They never leave the building." Wonka insists.
"That sounds like slavery." Yao says.
"Oh no! I assure you its in their nature to work like this."
"That's what they said about House Elves."
One of the tiny Oompa-Loompas points at something in alarm. The others begin shouting.
"What's gotten into them?" Athena asks. She looks herself and her eyes grow wide.
"No Princess! No!"
Peach is hanging precariously from one of the willows on the bank of the river. Her face sticky as she scoops handful after handful of liquid chocolate into her mouth.
"Excuse me your majesty! Please don't do that! My chocolate must never be touched by human hands!" Wonka cries suddenly. Waving his stick at the girl.
"Yo! Peachy! Bad move, don't to that!" Markus shouts rushing over.
Peach looks up and waves to them, laughing.
"Markus! Athena! You must try this! It's the tastiest thing I've ever tasted!"
Then what everyone was picturing in their head unfolds before their eyes. Peach tries to readjust her grip but loses it instead. She tumbles forward into the river, and with a loud plop disappears from sight.
Markus sighs.
"I knew this would happen."
Peach resurfaces, with another loud squeal of joy.
"Princess are you alright!?" Athena calls. Peach nods but doesn't reply. She's too excited to talk, all she can manage is loud shameless laughter and tears of joy as she splashes and frolics in place.
"This is terrible." Wonka says in a low voice. "If she's not careful she'll be sucked up one of my pipes. That one she's closest to leads to the mixer, and if she's not careful the fudge boiler, and what a disaster that would…"
He trails off. Peach has calmed down a little, and is currently doing backstrokes in the chocolate.
"Yeah, she swims pretty good." Markus says.
"Oh…" Wonka looks strangely disappointed for a moment then perks back up.
"Good for her then. But someone still needs to get her out of there. She's dirtying my chocolate river. And besides I'd say it's time to move on anyway, wouldn't you?"
He whistles sharply and an Oompa-Loompa materializes before him.
"Send up the others we're moving on."
The tiny man salutes then dashes off. A moment later to the great amazement of the contestants a large bright pink longboat comes sailing up the chocolate river, propelled by several dozen Oompa-Loompas rowing. The ship makes waves in its wake, churning up the chocolate and sending Peach bobbing around in the river, the girl still giggling with delight.
"Like it?" Wonka asks. "It's my own personal pleasure yacht, also made entirely of candy might I add. Now don't be shy my beautiful friends. Everyone aboard!"
They board the ship two at time and then they're off down the river, their rowers going at an idle pace, letting everyone take in the candy scenery for a moment.
Wonka leans down next to the nearest Oompa-Loompa.
"Can I borrow that?"
He grabs the little mans oversized oar and whistling the first few bars of That's Amore, dips it into the river like a Venetian gondolier. When he pulls it back up, he's got Peach on the end of it and he plops her down into the boat. She cries out in despair.
"No! Please! Put me back! I was enjoying myself."
"Princess look at the state you're in." Athena says disapprovingly. Peach being of course by this point covered head to toe in melted chocolate.
"Didn't you tell me you had white magic that kept you from getting dirty or some ****?" Markus asks.
Peach giggles again, she seems more hyper than usual, all the sugar doubtless having an effect on her.
"Silly Markus! This isn't dirt! It's Chocolate!" She sighs "Oh and what chocolate it is? It's the creamiest loveliest chocolate I've ever tasted! Here! Try some!"
She holds out her arm for him. Markus pushes it away politely.
"Uh, how 'bout instead you stop bouncing over there and calm down a little. That'd be tight."
"I'm sorry." Peach says bouncing up and down in her seat. "All I can think of is how delicious the chocolate is, and the flowers and the trees and all the yummy things I haven't tried yet! What am I doing sitting here! I've got to try everything! Yippee!"
She leaps out of her seat and dives gracefully back into the river.
"Again?" Wonka shouts annoyed.
Markus sighs.
"Maybe I should like keep an eye on her or something, before she tries to eat an Oompa-Loompa."
"I think that'd be wise." Wonka says with a look of deep impatience. And he takes the oar again and lifts Markus back onto the boat. They see him land on the candy grass before he disappears out of sight. Their boat having just entered a large tunnel.
"There…" Wonka says recomposing himself. "Now that that's all behind us let's all calm down and enjoy ourselves. We'll take this nice quiet tunnel to our next destination."
…
What ever they experience in the tunnel it doesn't seme to be calming, as by the time they've reached the end of it, the eight remaining contestants look like they've just watched a plane crash.
"Well I found that most rejuvenating wouldn't you say?" Wonka asks.
"Why were you screaming about the fires of hell in there?" Yao yelps.
"Oh, that tunnel of mine always casts a sort of spell on me. Athena you can stop gripping that seat now, we're here."
Athena lets go of the boat, the part of which she had been holding onto had been ground in to powder by her grip.
They've arrived at a dock on the river. On the wall just past it is a bright red door with the words The Inventing Room printed on it.
"I think you're going to all like this one. It may not look like much from out here, but (and I assure you this is true) this is the most important room in my factory."
"I thought that was the last one." Indy says distrustfully.
"Well I must have been mistaken then, because it's clearly this one here." Wonka insists. Indy sighs.
They enter the room, inside is a maze of bubbling pots and whirling machines pumping strange liquids up into the pipes all around. The whole room is thick with smoke, steam, sizzling and smells.
"Every Wonka product get's its start in this very room." Wonka explains. "Before they're put into testing and far before they ever reach shelves their formulas are first boiled and churned into existence right here."
Doof looks around nodding in approval. "Cool. Who's your scientist?"
"Why myself of course!" Wonka says humbly. Doof looks impressed.
"Really? You know I didn't take you for a scientist type."
"I assumed he was." Bentley says smiling. "We tinkerers' tend to be of a certain type you know?"
"Wait a minute. Bentley you invent things too?" Doof asks surprised.
Bentley shrugs. "Just the odd gadget for my gang."
"What did you make Amethyst into a gem too like we did with Lenny?" Doof asks. Bentley chuckles.
"I'm fairly certain she was like that at the start if my memory serves correct. Which it often does. No I was talking about my gang back home. Me, Sly Cooper and Murray. I often make inventions for the three of us to help with our uh… completely legal hobbies and past times."
"Hang on a moment sir." Wonka says turning to Doof then gesturing to Lenny. "You mean to tell me you turned that man into a rock candy monster?"
"Well first of all he's a gem, and I had a little help… but yeah. Pretty much." Doof says proudly. "Between the three of us I think the Gem-transform-inator Is one of my best inators in years."
"What's an inator?"
"Oh I just end everything I create with the suffix inator, you know like Other-Dimension-inator, Chicken Replace-inator, Ballgown-inator. It's a personal branding thing."
"But why limit yourself to just inators?" Wonka asks.
"Evil science is a competitive field; everyone needs a gimmick. Besides why do you limit yourself to just candy?"
"Amethyst what are you doing!?"
The three of them turn to see Amethyst whistling innocently. Athena glaring down at her.
"What's going on here? I demand to know." Wonka asks.
"She stole something from one of the machines." Athena says.
"What? It was just a little piece of gum." Amethyst protests. Wonka looks alarmed.
"Chewing gum? Young lady I hope you don't mean a piece of three-course-meal chewing gum from the machine you're standing next to too?"
Amethyst chuckles. "Is that what is was? Dude you should really label these things."
"There'll be time for that later! Quickly I implore you! Spit out that gum before it's too late." Wonka begs.
"Can't dude. I already swallowed it."
"Swallowed it!?"
"Uh… yeah. That's what you humans do with food right?"
"Not with gum Amethyst." Bentley says.
Amethyst laughs. "You people have food you're not suppose to swallow? Man, humans are weird."
"Maybe she won't get the effects now." Wonka says running his hands through his hair. Bentley turns.
"What effects?"
"AAAAAAAAAH!"
There's a great deal of excitement and shouting. Amethyst has suddenly and explosively turned blue and ballooned to several times her size, knocking back machines and some of the contestants.
"AMETHYST!" Bentley shouts.
"What did you do to her you crazy sorcerer?" Yao howls at Wonka.
"I didn't do anything it's the three-course meal gum." Wonka says with a disappointed shake of the head. "Had the same result with several Oompa-Loompas. The tomato soup, and roast beef work wonderfully but the pie…" He sighs frustratedly. "Blueberries. Every time it turns them into blueberries."
"I can't have a blueberry as a teammate. My other one's already a turtle!" Yao wails.
"And you won't sir." Wonka insists. "We'll get your friend fixed up for you good as new!"
He whistles again. A slot in the wall opens and an Oompa-Loompa steps out.
"Grab some of your friends and roll her onto to the boat." Wonka commands.
"It's fine." Amethyst insists. "This isn't the first time this had happened to me. I totally got this; watch."
She tries to move and ends up rolling forward onto her face, she rolls off deeper into the inventing room smashing aside machines as she does. Wonka winces then turns back to his little worker.
"Once you've caught her, take her to the juicing room."
"The juicing room?" Yao repeats.
"Yes. On account of all the juice your friends swelled up with. We'll have to squeeze her. Make sure it's all out, then maybe she'll be back to normal."
They hear another crash in the distance.
"Maybe until then someone should keep an eye on her. Her buddy perhaps."
Athena nods. "Wise idea. I'll see if I can track down the other two as well."
She rushes off after Amethyst.
"Well, well, well. Four naughty guests gone. Six good little guests left. I think we better get out of this room quickly before we lose anyone else." Wonka says to the remaining six.
He opens a hidden door in the wall (A much larger one than the Oompa-Loompa stepped through of course) And leads them through it. They're back in one of the pink well lit hallways they started in.
"There's still plenty to see." Wonka says. "Perhaps now we'll be able to pass through them quicker with all the troublemakers gone."
They pause at a crossroad. Peach rushes past them, candy stuck to her chocolate coating. They next moment they see Markus panting after her.
"PEACHY! HOLD UP! SLOW DOWN A MINUTE!"
"She really likes candy." Beatrice insists.
"I've gathered." Wonka says, staring down at the trail of chocolate Peach has left on his carpet. "Let us perhaps prioritise going somewhere she won't follow us next. I think I know a good place straight ahead."
He rushes them through the long hallway. As he does the group passes by several different doors with strange labels. Eatable Marshmallow Pillows, Lickable Wallpaper For Nurseries, Hot Ice Cream For Cold Days.
"That sounds neat." Beatrice says.
"No time to stop!" Wonka insists.
Cow's That Give Chocolate Milk. Reads the next door.
"What's the process there? Do you feed them chocolate or did you actually genetically alter them?" Doof asks.
"Neither! The answer's quite interesting, actually. But we haven't the time for it now."
On the opposite side of the hall, they pass a door with a view port. Square Candies that Look Round it says.
"Square Candies that Look Round?" Lenny laughs.
"That sir is my Magnum Opus." Wonka says proudly. "But we'll have to double back and see it later. Ah! Here it is!"
He stops so suddenly several of the contestants crash into him.
"Careful!" He scolds. "No wonder we've lost so many friends with you all running through the hallways like that."
"We were chasing you!" Yao snaps.
"Please save all questions for later." Wonka says. Yao glares at him. Wonka ignores him and gestures to the door in front of them. The words: The Nut Room are printed on it.
"This, my exalted guests, is perhaps one of the most important room's in my factory."
"How many important rooms do you have?" Indy asks annoyed.
"Too many to count!" Wonka chirps. Indy grumbles to himself.
He opens the door and they enter onto a square viewing platform overlooking a large circular room. Sitting at workstations all around them are a hundred red squirrels.
"Squirrels?" Beatrice says surprised.
"Look at them siting in their little stations all cute." Doof laughs.
"Oh, they do more than look cute Doofenshmirtz. They're hard at work as we speak, see for yourselves." Wonka says.
Much like the Chocolate room, the ceiling of the nut room is covered in glass pipes then are suspended down to the room below. Rather then sucking things up into them however, they watch as whole walnuts roll down each of them before landing in front of the squirrels.
"Nothing can open a walnut like a squirrel." Wonka explains. "No one except them can get a whole walnut out of its shell every time. Therefore, I had this scurry (That's the proper name for a group of squirrels you know.) properly trained and brought to the factory. Aren't they fun to watch? See first how before opening a nut they tappa tappa tappa it with their knuckles to see if it's good. They can't work with bad ones after all so straight down the garbage chute they go."
The squirrel nearest to him has a walnut land in front of it. Surely enough it gives it a rap with its tiny nimble hand, then throws it towards a garbage chute in the centre of the room. At least it tries to, in actuality it flings in backwards and hits Yao on the forehead.
"Ow!"
Wonka smirks. "I'm sorry about that. They're still working on their aim."
Another walnut hits Yao on the side of the head.
"HEY! They're doing that on purpose!"
"Calm down Yao." Bentley urges.
"It's true! I swear it!" Yao insists. "I can hear them laughing at me. Listen."
The entire room of squirrels are chittering amongst themselves. Doof sighs.
"Something wrong doctor?" Wonka asks.
"For whatever reason everything's reminding me of my nemesis Perry the Platypus today." Doof says glumly.
"Ah, I understand completely." Wonka says patting him on the back. "Why anytime I think of my rivals old Slugworth, Prodnose and the gang why it sets my blood to boil. I'm not shamed to admit."
"Oh no! I don't hate Perry the Platypus. We were quite close actually, lots of good chemistry between us. He even followed me onto this game show…then he uh was the first out from our team which was…. Not gonna lie it was weird for him alright? Normally he's the one between the two of us to get all the luck. But you know, I moved on. Tried to make a new friend in Rick and… well long story short that didn't work out, and now I'm kinda on my own."
Wonka claps him on the back endearingly.
"I sympathize my friend. The life of a mad scientist is a lonely one. Terribly hard to find any like minded that are… what's the word?"
"Stable?" Doof guesses. Wonka smiles.
"That'll do."
Another rogue nut hits Yao in the middle of his forehead. He clinches his fists and growls.
"Yao mind your temper." Bentley warns.
"I'm trying." He says through gritted teeth. "But it's hard when they keep hitting me."
"Stand somewhere else then." Beatrice says.
Yao takes a step to the right and winces expecting something to happen, after a second when nothing does, he opens his eyes and relaxes his muscles slightly.
"Phew. I was starting to get angry there."
Soon as he's said that two nuts strike him on either side of the temple. Yao roars in frustration.
"THAT TEARS IT!"
He hops down from the platform and into the room, picking up the nearest nut and flings it back at one of the squirrels. It hits it's mark and the tiny creature let's out a squeak and goes limp. The other squirrels watch this happen in stunted silence then slowly turn to stare at Yao. He laughs awkwardly.
"Uh… Sorry about that."
One of the squirrels slowly points an accusing finger at him then shrieks. A second later every squirrel in the room descends on him. He lets out a cry of terror and tries to flee back up onto the platform but they overwhelm him. Pulling him back down.
"My god they'll kill him." Indy whispers.
"They won't do that to a guest, I like to think I've trained them better than that." Wonka assures them. "He should be fine so long as…"
The squirrels collectively pin Yao down, he struggles but the rodents are surprisedly firm in their grip. Then a single one climbs onto his chest and raps his forehead, before chittering disapprovingly.
"Oh dear." Wonka says softly.
"What do they mean by that!?" Yao shouts fearfully.
"It means you're a bad nut."
"I think they're biased." Indy says.
"I think you're right but unfortunately we don't have much of a say in what comes next."
"What comes next?"
"Same thing that happens to all bad nuts."
The squirrels begin carrying Yao off to the centre of the room. Towards the large pit to the garbage chute.
"Hey! Don't be so hasty about this! Wait! No! Nooooooooooooo…"
The squirrels toss him down the hole and he falls out of sight.
"Yao!" Beatrice shouts.
She turns to Wonka.
"How am I supposed to get him to warm up to me now?"
"Well, he'll be plenty warm where he's going." Wonka says.
"Where's that?"
"The furnace."
Beatrice makes a face of alarm.
"You know he was a rather wide fellow that Yao. Maybe he's stuck in the chute." Wonka offers.
Beatrice blinks at him then vaults over the safety rail down into the main room and over the edge of the chute.
"YAO!? Are you in there? If I'm responsible for getting another contestant killed, they'll never forgive me."
She crouches down on her hands and knees and peers down the garbage chute. So preoccupied with this that she that she doesn't notice the squirrels regrouping behind her, until…
"AHHH!"
"BEATRICE!" Indy and Doof shout. With a well placed kick, the squirrels have shoved her down after Yao. Wonka laughs uproariously. Indy gives him a look of disgust.
"You think this is funny you son of a b-"
"I do. Yes." Wonka interjects wiping away a tear. "Though that's possibly because I know for a fact the furnace has been broken for some time. Meaning not only that they will they not be burned alive, but rather, have weeks and weeks of old garbage to break their fall."
Doof let's out a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness. I thought we were gonna have to have to deal with more of our contestants dying horribly in a fire."
"Perfectly understandable worry to have." Wonka assures him. "And I apologise for my squirrels' behavior. We're still working on training them and they're very tribalistic at times."
He whistles again. An Oompa-Loompa walks through the door.
"See to it you get someone to route around the garbage pile in the basement, I'm afraid we have misplaced some of our guests down there."
The Oompa-Loompa giggles then runs off. Wonka turns back to the others.
"Right, on with the tour!"
He leads them back into the hallway and down along it until they reach a set of double doors.
"So much to see, so little time. Fortunately, we can speed things along by taking the factory's elevator."
"You've only got one elevator in your entire factory?" Bentley asks. Wonka smiles.
"Oh trust me, my terrific Testudines. My great glass elevator does double duty."
He leads them inside, they've entered into a room largely made of glass, every surface besides its floor is covered with buttons, each with their own neat label.
"See my elevator can go sideways, longways, slantways and just about any ways. We have access to the entire factory, any room you want. Go ahead and pick one. I'm open to suggestions."
"Well, I'd like to see more of your inventions." Doof says. "What have you been working on lately Willy old pal?"
Wonka taps his temple.
"Splendiferous suggestion Doctor. I know just the place!"
He presses a button labeled Television room. And once they're jerked down and sideways deeper into the factory. Incredible sights and sounds whizz by as they traverse the seemingly endless labyrinthine underground complex, until finally the elevator stops so suddenly it throws everyone off their feet.
"We're here!" Wonka chirps.
The doors open, they're standing at the entrance of a room so blindingly white and sterile that it pains the eyes to look at.
"Here. Put these on quickly now." Wonka urges grabbing five sets of visors off the wall and handing them to the others.
Putting them on, the contestants find the room to still be white, if no longer painfully. Beyond that there's very little in it. The only objects in sight are a large, strange and complex machine, and a standard sized vacuum tube television set. Behind the machine Oompa-Loompas sit stoically at a set of controls.
"This is a new project I've been particularly excited about. Indeed friends, I don't mean to speak too soon but I believe it may well be one of my best. Why in fact this very room may be-"
"-The most important in your factory?" Indy guesses. Wonka gasps.
"Why! How did you know?"
"If this is what I think it is I can't say I disagree." Lenny comments.
Wonka leads them over to the strange machine.
"Now, I see no evidence of it around me but I'm told we are all on some form of television program currently. So I'll assume you're all familiar with television itself?"
"It's a new invention in my time, but I understand the basic concept." Indy says.
"Then you'll know how it works don't you? On one end you take a large camera and start photographing it. Those pictures are then split up into a million little pieces, shoot up into the sky, until they hit the antenna on the roof of some one's house and presto! They're reassembled into the original picture, right in your own home."
"It's a little more complicated than that…" Bentley begins.
"You'll have to speak up, I'm a little deaf in my left ear." Wonka says.
"Now then! First time I saw a television set I said to myself: if people can do all that with pictures why can't I do that with chocolate bars?"
"That's impossible." Indy says.
"Nothing impossible." Wonka counters. "Or else I wouldn't be standing here conversing with a man from another dimension! Now bring in the chocolate."
Six Oompa-Loompa's march forward, they're carrying a chocolate bar the size of a mattress.
"Why is it so big?" Bentley asks.
"Because when you send something by television it always appears smaller on your screen than when you filmed it." Wonka explains.
"Why not get a larger screen then?" Lenny suggests. Wonka shakes his head.
"That would never do. I want my fantastic technology to work in everyone's homes. Now stand back and we'll have a demonstration here.
The Oompa-Loompa's set down the bar in front of the focal point of the machine, then sprint away. The machine hums as it comes to life. Suddenly there's a blinding flash, and the chocolates vanished.
"It's gone!" Bentley cries in surprise.
"Quickly! To the television set." Wonka says.
They gather around the television set. For a second all they see is static. Then an image begins to sort itself out of the chaos and the chocolate reappears on screen, now normal sized.
"That is quite impressive." Indy admits.
"Go on, see how it tastes." Wonka urges. Indy chuckles.
"Its an image on the screen."
"Take it. Its just as real a candy bar as it was a moment ago."
"Now that really is impossible. Even a wizard couldn't manage something like that. I would know I lived with them for a season."
"Alright then. You take it Doofenshmirtz."
"Okay…"
He hesitantly grabs the screen, and to his, Bentley and Indy's immense surprise pulls out a perfectly real bar of Wonka chocolate.
"Imagine it now!" Wonka says. "You'll be siting at home watching television, a commercial flashes on screen, Wonka's Chocolates! They're the best in the world! Don't believe us? Try it for yourselves! I call it Wonkavision."
"Now that's how you sell chocolates!" Doof says.
He, Indy and Bentley break into applause. Wonka bows deeply.
"Thank you! Thank you! You're too kind gentlemen."
He straightens up then looks around.
"Well then… If they'll be no other excitement then let's continue."
The group starts making their way back towards to the elevator. Lenny however stays put.
"Hang on. No one's going to do it then?"
"Do what?" Indy asks.
"We've had some unlucky bloke share one of the fates from the book in every room we've gone to." He says. "We're not thinking of diverging now are we?"
"I think we've had enough accidents for one day." Wonka says. "Come on then, there's so much more to see."
Lenny doesn't move. Instead, he looks around, taking in the room, then chuckles to himself.
"Right then. Guess it'll have to be me. Mr Wonka! Set the dial to Channel 145!"
"Wait a minute! Wait a minute! What are you doing!?" Wonka says alarmed. Lenny's sprinting towards the machine.
"Becoming the second person to travel by television!" Lenny says joyfully.
He turns on the machine, dives into its ray, and vanishes.
"Second person?" Wonka says confused. "Who else does he imagine would be crazy enough to jump into my Wonkavision machine."
"Never mind that now, let's see where he's gone." Bentley says.
They crowd back around the television.
"Where is he?" Indy asks.
"Check a different channel." Doof says. Grabbing the remote and flipping to the channel Lenny described. They find him on there as part of some Shonen style anime grinning ear to ear.
"That's him!" Bentley cries.
"Well quickly, grab him before anything happens to him!" Wonka urges.
Indy plucks the tiny Lenny from out of the TV and frowns at him. His former teammate now fits comfortably in the palm of his hand.
"Well? Was it worth it?"
Lenny gives him a cheeky smile and a thumb's up. Indy grumbles and turns to Wonka.
"What am I supposed to do about this now? He looks like I shrunk him in the wash!"
"That's Wonkavision." Wonka says matter of factly.
"I'd appreciate a more helpful answer."
Wonka seems to consider this for a minute or two.
"The taffy puller!" He says finally.
"What?" Indy says.
"Yes the taffy puller! Put him through there, maybe there's a chance it'll stretch him back to full size."
Indy gives him a look that seems to suggest he sorely wants the chocolatier to be joking.
"…Don't you have any… I don't know, candy that makes people grow?"
Wonka erupts into a full-blown belly laugh.
"Candy that makes people grow!? Ha ha! Why, what do you take me for? A wizard?"
He wipes a tear from his eye then whistles sharply, one of the Oompa-Loompas runs over.
"My worker here will escort you gentlemen to the Taffy Room. Be sure to tell me how that works out for you."
Indy gives him one last exasperated look then slips Lenny under his hat and leaves with the Oompa-Loompa. Wonka turns back to his guests.
"Right? Who's left?"
"Just us." Doof says gesturing to himself and Bentley. Wonka claps his hands together excitedly.
"Ah, just us tinkerers then? Perfect! That means less questions to answer. Onward gentlemen, there's still so much more to see."
He ushers them back into the elevator and grins.
"This time friends, I hope you don't mind if I pick the destination."
He presses a button and they're off.
…
Down, up and around they go bouncing through the factory, every new sight a marvel, every new room filled with wonders.
The elevator passes through a vast chamber with a massive pile of something chocolate.
"Fudge Mountain." Wonka informs them.
They dive down into a ravine in it's base, finding themselves in a maze of caverns lined with colourful crystals.
"My rock candy mines, they're 10,000 feet deep I'm proud to say."
They soar back up through the mines and are now passing over a golden ocean.
"And this is my caramel lake."
"Goodness." Bentley mutters. "How do you make a profit from any of this?"
Wonka chuckles "It pays to have backstock." He elbows Doofenshmirtz. "What'd you say friend? Very impressive isn't it?"
"Oh… Uh… Yeah. Yeah it's alright." Doof says distractedly. Wonka frowns.
"Everything alright doctor?"
"It's nothing." Doof insists, Wonka nods.
"Splendid. Now where to-"
"The others are going to be alright right? Like Beatrice and everyone, we kinda… left some of them in a bad way."
Wonka laughs.
"But they're your competition Doof? Surely you shouldn't be too concerned."
"Yeah.. But even when I trap Perry the Platypus… I… How do I explain it? I'm not worried about putting Perry the Platypus in elaborate traps because I know he can handle it if that makes any sense. Also you just know he's gonna get out of it in like a minute. Like he's not in any uncertain doom or anything"
"And you're not confident my Oompa-Loompa's will be able to help your friends?" Wonka probes.
"Oh no!" Doof says apologetically. "It's just… you know."
"I wouldn't mind checking in on Amethyst and Yao. Just to maybe make sure they're alright" Bentley says.
Wonka raises an eyebrow. "Are you sure? I don't like moving backwards you know? If we go back to check on them, we'll have to stop the tour. You'd be missing out on plenty more wonders."
Doofenshmirtz and Bentley look at one other, then nod and turn back to Wonka.
"Yeah. We're good." Doof says.
"We've seen enough. We want to check on our allies." Says Bentley.
Wonka sighs dramatically then smiles and shakes his head.
"Very well then." He relents. "I'll take you to them."
He presses an elevator button labeled Head Office. At once the elevator jerks to a sudden halt, then lurches upwards, back towards the surface.
…
Mr Wonka's office is a strange place certainly, or rather half of it is. Half of everything in it seems to be perfectly normal, the desk, the books, the hat rack, the only thing unusual about is that the other half of everything seems to be missing, including their fellow contestants.
Athena, Indy and Markus are all standing there, looking very tired. With them is Peach who's in a yet worse state then when they last saw her. The poor princess looks like a piece of candy bark, as it seems half the factory's stuck to her. Chocolates, gumdrops, sprinkles, lollipops and sweets of every size and shape are stuck to her thick layer of chocolate coating, (Which since they've last seen it, has become marbled with white and dark chocolate, though it's anyone's guess how she managed that) Not that Peach seems to mind. She bounces up and down, eyes wide as dinner plates and smile shining brightly despite everything she's eaten.
"Well, we're back." Wonka says. "How are all my guests? No hard feelings about being cut from the tour?"
Peach squeals and claps her hands.
"OH MR WONKA! I've never never nevernevernevernever seen such an amazing place in all the worlds I've been! In all the universe! In the multiverse!"
She says this all very quickly. Indy gives her an uncertain look.
"Are you alright honey?"
Peach gives him a slightly deranged laugh happily.
"Am I alright!? Am I alright!? Professor this is the greatest day in my life! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee he he! Ha ha ha!
She falls to the floor laughing hysterically and kicking her feet. Athena sighs.
"Perhaps we should have left her outside."
Doof shrugs. "At least she had fun."
"***** I'm just glad she didn't go up the pipe like that fat **** in the movie." Markus says.
"About that." Bentley says. "Where are the other four?"
The door to the office opens and in walks Yao and Beatrice. They're both covered with garbage and look absolutely miserable.
"Anyone want to explain to me why there's a bunch of rotten vegetables in the dumpster of a candy factory?" Yao says pulling a banana peel off his shoulder and dropping it on the floor. Wonka laughs.
"Why good sir? You don't think me and my Oompa-Loompas live off chocolate, do you?"
Yao and Beatrice groan in unison.
"What matters is you're okay." Doof says.
"Yeah… we're just Peachy." Beatrice says, casting a slightly envious glance at Peach giggling on the floor.
A parade of Oompa-Loompa's walk in next escorting Amethyst and Lenny. The others gasp. Amethyst looks like a popped balloon, while Lenny's stretched thin and about three metres tall.
"Hello You…" He says cheerfully.
"Sup." Amethyst says.
Bentley and Yao let out a horrified gasp.
"Amethyst, please tell me that isn't permanent!" Bentley says. Amethyst laughs.
"Nah we just wanted to spook you guys. Ready Lenny?"
"Right!"
They both dissolve in a batch of glowing white light, and shapeshift back into their normal selves.
"See? Totally fine." Amethyst says.
"But you're still blue." Yao points out. Amethyst inspects herself. Her Skin, hair and gemstone still unmistakably blue.
"Huh. Guess I am. Sweet! That'll improve my Lapis impressions."
She shapeshifts briefly into Lapis Lazuli, then changes back laughing.
"Yeah. I can make this work. Oh and Mr Wonka? Your gum's great and all but it maybe needs like a slight rework or two."
"So I've garnered." Wonka says. Then he claps his hands together. "Right! Well then, that's the end of our tour. I suppose all that needs to be done is figure out who's been eliminated and then I'll send you on your way."
"I'm not going anywhere without a long bath first." Beatrice says. Wonka nods.
"Yes perhaps you're right. You wouldn't make a good first impression on your next group covered in garbage, would you?"
He whistles and the Oompa-Loompas that brought Amethyst and Lenny in run over to him obediently.
"Show our guests back to the lavatories and let them wash up for me, will you? When they're done you can bring them back here."
The tiny men nod then lead the contestants back out of Wonka's office. The chocolatier smiles and nods, before noticing two of his guests have stayed put.
"Not in the need for a bath gentlemen?" He asks Doof and Bentley. Doof shrugs.
"We're good."
"Right… well I suppose we'll just wait here for everyone." Wonka suggests.
He sits down at his desk.
"Well, gentlemen. How'd you like my factory?"
Bentley chuckles. "Well, it definitely wasn't the worst place I've been on this trip."
"Yeah, it was alright. Not everyplace we get good hospitality like this." Doof says playfully punching Wonka on the shoulder.
"You're too kind sir." The chocolatier says. He chuckles then stops and studies them curiously.
"Is... Something wrong?" Bentley asks.
"I don't believe so." Wonka says quietly. He sits up straight and clears his throat. "Gentlemen perhaps you could help an old candy maker with his moral quandaries? See I'll be perfectly transparent and say I'm surprised you two were the ones that made it to the end of my tour, but what I'm more surprised of is why either of you would join such a competition to begin with?"
"Okay? What do you mean?" Doof asks.
"I mean why would you play for the prize fairly instead of stealing it."
"I'm not a thief! Who said I was!?" Bentley shouts defensively.
Doof simply shrugs.
"Eh I don't know? Evil's a hobby but it's one that gets me thwarted more often that I'd like. For this prize I kinda of wanted to avoid that because between the three of us, I really need that money. Or more specifically my Vanessa does. I'm using it to send her to college."
He shows Wonka the picture of his daughter. Wonka looks at it for a moment then laughs.
"You continue to surprise me friend."
He hands the photo back.
"She reminds me slightly-"
"Of Beatrice? Yeah, I noticed that too."
"Is that why you're especially kind to the girl?"
"No, I get along with most kids half decently."
"You know Doc, you don't strike me as an evil scientist." Wonka says suddenly.
"You think?"
"I do." Wonka says. "I think more than that truth be told. In fact, Doctor if you'll allow me to speak honestly, I don't think villainy's the right field for you."
Doof looks betrayed.
"I'm evil! I… I mean I think I am. I know I'm not very good at it. But it's my thing. If I'm not an evil scientist I'm just some creepy guy everyone thinks is a pharmacist. I mean alright everyone already thinks that. But if I wasn't evil it'd be true!"
Wonka smiles and leans over his desk at him.
"No it wouldn't, Doctor Doofenshmirtz. For I have an offer I think both of us have been waiting for, for a very long time."
Doof's face lights up. "You're running against my brother Rodger in the next mayoral race in Danville?"
Wonka chuckles.
"What? Oh no! No… I know positively none of the context behind any of whatever was behind that estimate of yours. No what I really want…" He hesitates. "What I'd like to offer you… The matter that I'm proposing…"
He sighs and shakes his head. Laughing at himself.
"Hard as it is to admit it my dear Doofenshmirtz, I can't go on forever, and I'm not sure I'd like to try. Someday closer than I'd like to admit I'll be gone and I'll need someone else to run the factory and look after the Oompa-Loompas. That's quite the hard pill for me to swallow as I'm certain you've noticed but I have something of what others would call a swelled ego."
"No…" Doof says a gasp. Wonka shakes his head sadly.
"It's true. But painful a reality as it is to face, one day I'll have to hand over the keys to my candy empire. But perhaps that pill would be easier to swallow if I got used to sharing it first… Ideally with someone likeminded."
Bentley raises an eyebrow. "Are you-"
"I am." Wonka says. He turns to Doof and bows.
"Heinz Doofenshmirtz will you stay here and become my business partner?"
Doof is stunned, frozen in shock. He stares at the chocolatier before him as if he had just announced himself to be his long-lost brother.
"You want me to go into the chocolate business with you?" He croaks in disbelief. "I-I I don't know what to say? That means I'd be quitting the game."
"I'd pay you." Wonka says quickly. "You'd make a salary, enough to send your daughter to any school she wants."
"I'd be giving up evil."
"You said yourself you were never successful in it."
"But what about my stuff? My robot norm? What about Perry the Platypus? Who will he thwart if I'm not there?"
"We'll bring them later, and your nemesis can visit. It won't be for forever but Doof I see tremendous potential in you! You're the first person in all my years I've found a kindred spirit with! Come, stay here with me and change the confectionery world together!"
Doof bites his lip.
"I… I can't I'm sorry! I can't jump into something like this without worrying about. I mean Doctor Robotnik said we were kindred spirits too and in the end, it turned out he just wanted me as another robot. And then there's Rick and the other evil scientists back home. Basically, there's a reason I hang out with Perry the Platypus. I… This is happening too fast! I can't I'm sorry!"
Bentley makes a noise and beckons for Doof to come closer.
"Doof why are you turning this down?" He whispers. "It's guaranteed money. You can win without winning the game."
"Yeah but I've come so far." Doof says "I mean look at me. I'm in the final ten. I've got no enemies. I did better than Perry the Platypus for crying out loud! That never happens!
In all my life this game is the one thing that's gone right for me. The only one. How can I just give it up because I've got a better opportunity? What kind of example would that set for my Vanessa? How would she feel if I didn't risk the ten million and gave up evil because I got an offer for a better job?"
Bentley smiles at him.
"Proud, doctor."
…
Later when the other eight return, everyone's in considerable better spirits. Yao, Beatrice and Peach are clean, thought the later now seems to be unconscious.
"What happened to her?" Doof asks Athena, who's got the sleeping Peach over her shoulders.
"Sugar crash." Markus says.
"And about time too." Indy grumbles.
"Alright! I still got some aggression to get out." Yao says cracking his knuckles. "Who we voting out?"
"Actually, there's been a slight change of plan." Wonka says. "Your friend Doctor Doofenshmirtz and I have been talking. He's decided to stay here at the factory and become my business partner."
The others look shocked.
"Is this true doctor?" Lenny asks.
Doof shrugs. "Bentley talked me into it. I mean why leave my daughter's college fund up to chance when I could earn it right here."
"It'll only be temporary." Wonka insists. "But it does mean that he'll be forfeiting the game."
"You sure this is the end of the road doc?" Indy asks.
"Don't take this as me not liking the game." Doof says. "You guys are great! I just could use something a little more…"
Indy silences him by stepping forward and smiling.
"Good luck pal."
He offers him a hand, Doof smiles and takes it.
"Thanks. You too Professor Jones."
Beatrice approaches next, slightly hesitantly. She looks like she's going to offer him her hand. Then suddenly she pulls him into a very brief but very sincere hug.
"Um, see you around Doof." She says scratching her arm, and puffing out her cheeks embarrassedly.
"Come here you!" Lenny says. Pulling Doof into an unashamed bear hug. Doof let's out a cry of pain.
"Agh! My back! I think my first invention with Wonka's Chocolate's is going to be a Restraighten-My-Spine-Inator."
"I know an arthritic Oompa-Loompa who would certainly appreciate that." Wonka says. "But there'll be time enough for that later. For now, our guests must be on their way."
The great glass elevator opens again and the nine remaining contestants get in. Willy Wonka and his new business stand just outside the door, smiling at them.
"See all those buttons?" Wonka asks.
"How could we not? There's like a million of them." Amethyst says.
"Five-Hundred and forty-eight to be exact." Wonka says. "I've pressed all of them, but two; Up and Out and that one."
Amethyst presses it. At once the elevator begins to rumble.
"Can you tell us where we're headed?" Athena asks. Wonka smiles.
"I can't say for sure my dear. I'd say ask Plato but unfortunately he's been dead for years."
Athena looks up.
"Plato?"
"Good bye!" Wonka calls "So Long! Au Revoir!"
"Auf Wiedersehen guys! Good luck!" Doof calls.
Then the next moment the doors close and the elevator shoots downwards. Doof get's one last glance at his fellow contestants, and then their gone from his life. Perhaps forever. Doof sighs.
"Well, that's it. I can't believe it's all over."
Wonka laughs and places a hand on his shoulder.
"Over? Heinz, this isn't the end of your story. It's the beginning."