Disclaimer:
I, Aslansphoenix declare that I do not own 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', or anything that you may find familiar.
The only thing to come from me, are my head canons.
*/*/*
Author's Note:
So we come to the part that covers the ending of the Chocolate Factory, and the beginning of the Great Glass Elevator. Which, and this is a slightly controversial opinion – I actually think it's the slightly better story. Don't get me wrong I love 'the Chocolate Factory',
I like the 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' film – I like the songs, and it was one of the first Roald Dahl things I was introduced to (and the book Revolting Rhymes), so there is nostalgia aspect with it for me.
At the same time; I fully understand and respect why Roald Dahl did not like that version. And why as a consequence he decided that he would not allow 'The Great Glass Elevator' to be made into a film.
I can respect that, and still think it is a pity – because it would make a great movie (or short television series). IF it were done well.
Anyway onto the story.
Chapter 9
The Oompa Loompas had finished their song, and Willy darted to the lift, idly wondering where they were to go next – hopefully a better room, and how many children there were left. He knew they had started with a lot, but they had been disappearing all day. Joe's voice stopped him before he could enter the lift.
"But Mr Wonka, there's … there's only Charlie Left now."
There was silence, and Willy turned to stare in wonderous amazement. Grandpa Joe was beaming, and little Charlie was holding tightly on to his Grandpa's arm, but his eyes were gazing at Willy, bright at stars. The Willy felt himself explode with Excitement and Happiness – Charlie who was as a polite and kind a child as Willy had ever dared dream, and who had constantly looked at the factory as if it were the most amazing place, was the only child left.
Willy had had a hunch that Charlie would be his heir, and now he was sure of it. He shook Charlie's hand with great exuberance and realised as he was speaking how much there was to do, so much – too much!
But it did present Willy with the most perfect opportunity. He could finally press the UP & OUT button. He had been wanting to press it ever since he had had it installed. He ushered the two Buckets into the Lift, and was thrilled to hear that Joe seemed to be enjoying himself as much as Willy was. And Charlie, more silent than his Grandpa or Willy himself, but his eyes still so amazed, and his smile still so real.
The button was pressed, and they started to sped upwards. Willy was nervous, and excited and so thrilled to be trying this. The Oompa Loompas had tried to convince Willy to install a window that could be opened for when he pressed the UP & OUT button – but where was the Drama in that? And while Willy had given in and hadn't used Sugar Glass for the walls of the life; it was run by Sugar Power, which made it ultra powerful. Powerful enough to break through the roof of his factory.
Joe proved that he still had a streak of adult sensibility to him. Worry about the Glass shattering, and thinking the lift had gone insane, which was understandable. It wasn't something even Willy had ever done before. But seeing the world tiny falling far down below, it soothed something in Willy's chaotic mind and made him feel calm. "Have no fear my dear sir" Said Willy as he switched to flying mode.
They watched the four brats and their families leave the factory, heading towards the Trucks loaded with a lifetime of chocolate.
August Gloop who had been squeezed as thin as could be (well almost – he didn't look as nearly as skeletal as Charlie). Violet Beauregard are purple in colour, but clearly de-juiced, and Willy thought she looked far healthier this way. The Salts were completely covered in rubbish, Willy hoped the parents would use this to learn to stop spoiling their daughter. Then came Mike Teavee; who may have been stretched more than he needed to be. He was taller the big doors. And had due to his thinness, had possibly refused the Supervitamin. Still other than the height thing; he looked completely unharmed.
Making sure that the other children were alright done. Willy turned his attention to Charlie, and to the very important conversation they had to have together.
They hung in the air above the Chocolate factory. And Willy took a moment to gaze down at it, adoring the view that he had never been able to see before. He loved his factory beyond the world. It was his everything, his favourite anything, it was all his hopes and dreams made real.
"How I love my chocolate factory" Willy turned his gaze to Charlie, and asked his most important question.
"Do you love it too Charlie?"
"Oh Yes" cried Charlie "I think it's the most wonderful place in the whole world!"
Willy looked into Charlie's eyes, and he believed him. Believed him more than he had ever believed anyone before. He knew without a doubt that this little boy would be the perfect heir to the Chocolate Factory. So he told them the truth, and both Joe and Charlie seemed amazed, they were in disbelief.
*/*/*
Joe stared at Willy Wonka in awe. The man was as wonderful as he had ever been; more so even. The factory was incredible, like being inside Willy Wonka' own imagination. And he was offering it to Charlie. Charlie who had never had anything, who refused to let his grandparents go without a meal even when they were all starving, who had loved the Wonka Tales more than any other. Joe could think of no one more deserving than his grandson for such a prize.
But he still found himself stuttering something about Willy surely not meaning to give little Charlie the entire factory, because after all it was Willy's everything; he had never shared any ownership of it with anyone. Joe didn't get to finish the sentence, maybe Willy had known what he was going say, because he interrupted Joe with a "There's no time for arguments!" And Joe understood that Willy had made up his mind, and when that happened, the best thing to do was to go along with it.
It was a little bit scary when they crashed through the roof of their house, but once the lift was firmly on the ground, Joe quickly came back to himself, and found humour in the situation. Georgina fainted, George hid under the blanket, and Josie dropped her false teeth and screamed to be saved. Honestly; for all their differences, Willy and Joe's wife could both be dramatic.
It took Joe and Charlie ages to explain everything that had happened to them, because Joe's fellow former bed-mates kept interrupting to ask questions or make ridiculous statements. And Willy didn't speak, just kept dancing and bouncing up in excitement. Joe was honest enough to admit he was disappointed in their reactions.
"I would rather die in my bed!" shouted Joe's 'darling' stubborn wife.
"So would I!" cried Grandma Georgina.
"I refuse to go!" announced Grandpa George going with the majority as always.
Joe, Willy and Charlie didn't listen to those protests though. It was like the three had silently agreed on a plan without having to discuss it. They pushed the bed into the left, and Charlie's parents in as well, and when Willy pressed the lift up button, Georgina let out a scream. Willy might have been slightly more inclined to ignored the panicking, but Charlie tried to reassure them.
"Please don't be frightened." He said. "It's quite safe. And we're going to the most wonderful place in the world."
"Charlie's right" agreed Joe, and noted Willy's pleased expression at those words. The others were still a little apprehensive until Charlie let them know that there would be plenty to eat at the Factory. Joe thought he should have thought of that himself. Food was always the answer to calming people down.
They flew against a brilliant blue sky. Joe saw his Henry and Helen start smiling, properly smiling for the first time in years, and Charlie was jumping up and down with excitement. There was such a positive feeling that Joe couldn't help but take influence from those delightful Oompa Loompas and had started singing. He thought that everything seemed perfect.
Well almost. Josie had started arguing with Willy Wonka, and when he ignored her barbs, she decided that she didn't trust him. And neither did Georgina who was convinced that Willy was going to try and Lixiviate them. Charlie and Joe tried to convince them to trust Mr Wonka, and Joe told Josie not to make trouble (he should have remembered that she almost never did what she was told). Willy exclaimed that they had to go higher before they could go down, and so the Elevator started speeding upwards. It was exhilarating, and terrifying the higher they went.
When Charlie confessed to Joe that he was scared, Joe readily admitted to also be afraid. How could not be – they were standing inside a glass box watching the world fall away, become just a tiny painted little picture. But even though he was terrified, and had questions he couldn't help but ask; he still trusted Willy, not just with his life, but the lives of his family as well.
The Josie panicked.
On one hand Josie actions led to quite an intense and horrifying adventure for the family. On the other hand; when thinking about it retrospectively Joe had to admit that Josie's panic; led to actions that did actually save the world.
Still Josie panicked, and grabbed hold of Willy Wonka; so tight he couldn't push the correct button. Willy yelled for Charlie to press it instead, but he was just a moment too late. And so; Mr Wonka, 6 adults, a bed, and Little Charlie Bucket found themselves floating in the Great Glass Elevator out in space. Josie, George and Georgina were all desperate to get back into the bed – to Joe's amusement.
It was a most unusual feeling. Joe and Charlie found joy as they floated, feeling weightless, and wonderful as the galaxy seemed to dance all around them.
*/*/*
Author's Note:
I'll be honest; I'm not sure how much of the Great Glass Elevator I will cover. Because in this story I have been trying to keep the moments that could be viewed as Willy x Joe ship-esque. (platonically or romantically, leave that up to the audience). You see it in the first book; Joe is always the one to compliment Mr Wonka, and to defend him, even when he unsure himself. Because the second book has a greater focus on the family; it means there are more moments - but I don't want to just repeat the book.
Rules of the Site for one thing. A couple of lines every now and then in italics to show it is taken directly from the book is one thing, but more than that, and I might not be allowed.
I'll reread the book and decided if I can do two or three more chapters to cover the story form either Joe or Willy's POV. Or if my best bet is to just go straight to the Epilogue, which will cover the story in a much briefer way.
(Oh - don't think I mentioned this elsewhere; had to publish as I have done, wanted to get at least the first part out before the new Wonka film. I'm unlikely to see it in theatres, but I'm sure I will see it at some point, and I wanted to write this before I had another influence for this story ;-) )
