Having found the first four tickets, the hunt for the final Wonka golden ticket grew more insane than anyone could possibly expect. Wonka bars were quickly becoming more and more rare with each passing day, many people finding it harder to get their hands on even one. This brings us to the Wonka auction held in the United Kingdom.
A large of gathering of people were ready to auction for some of the worlds most prized items from around the world. The auctioneer banged his gavel on his podium to gain the crowd’s attention as man brought forth a box of Wonka bars.
“Lot 403. I can personally guarantee, ladies and gentlemen, that this is the one and only, the absolutely last case of Wonka Bars left in the United Kingdom. Shall we start the bidding at one thousand pounds? Do I hear one thousand pounds?”
One by one, the bids went higher and higher as more people were desperately hoping to claim that last ticket.
“Fifteen hundred pounds? Two thousand? I have two thousand five hundred here. Four thousand pounds? Forty-five hundred pounds! Five thousand pou—Your Majesty!”
<>
In another part of the world, a police detective sat in an office chair in the study of the Curtis home. Along with him are a large ensemble of police officers, tape recorders, and a very distraught Mrs. Curtis. Her husband, Harold, had been kidnapped and was now being held for ransom. The only problem is that they had no idea what the ransom was, which is why they are sitting here waiting to find out.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Curtis,” The detective spoke. “Doesn’t seem to be anything in his papers to give us a clue.”
“They kidnapped my husband twelve hours ago,” Mrs. Curtis spoke, frantically. “When are we going to hear from them? What do they want?”
“They did it for ransom. All we can do is sit and wait for their demands.”
“I’ll give them anything, anything they want!” Mrs. Curtis cried out. “All I want is to have Harold back!”
Just then, the telephone rings and everyone sprang into action. One officer used a recorder to tape into the phone to trace its signal, another recorded the message itself, as the detective and Mrs. Curtis answered the phone.
“Go ahead, we’re listening. Uh huh… Uh huh…”
The detective turned to Mrs. Curtis, who looked expectantly.
“What did they ask for? Whatever it is they can have it.”
“They want your case of Wonka bars.”
Mrs. Curtis looked disbelieving at what she heard. She stood from her chair, walking toward the window looking as if she was in deep thought. Everyone else looked at her, wondering what she was doing.
“Mrs. Curtis, did you hear me? It’s your husband’s life for your case of Wonka bars.”
“How long will they give me to think it over?”
<>
In the Bucket house, Charlie, his family, and his pony friends sat along the bed of his grandparents as they finished dinner. Pinkie Pie insisted on making them all some cupcakes to wash down the cabbage soup they had. To be honest, everyone was quite thankful. Cabbage soup certainly wasn’t filling, nor even the best tasting meal.
“Okie-dokie-lokie, every pony, here comes the cupcake train!” Pinkie joked. “All aboard! Choo-choo!”
Every pony laughed as Pinkie walked toward them, wearing a conductor’s cap which balanced a tray of cupcakes on top.
“You know that’s what I love about you, Pinkie,” Charlie smiled. “You are so random.”
Pinkie smiled, blushing slightly as every pony grabbed a cupcake. As they all chewed the moist delicious treats, they couldn’t help but savor every bite to the last crumb.
“Now these have to be the most delicious treats I’ve ever tasted,” Mrs. Bucket complimented.
“Thank you, Mrs. Bucket,” Pinkie thanked her. “I made sure to make it with lots and lots of love!”
“You know with treats as wonderful as these, how could that bakery of yours back home possibly not have customers?” Grandpa Joe asked.
Pinkie Pie shrugged as she chomped on her own cupcake.
“I’m not really sure. Usually, Sugar Cube Corner is busy all the time. In fact, this one time, it was so busy I could hardly keep track of everything I’m doing and accidentally burnt the cookies I was baking. Well, then again, usually I do burn a lot of stuff like the one time me and Apple Bloom made Cupcakes for this one party. But to be fair, it’s not for…”
The whole time, Grandpa Joe shook his head as Pinkie rambled on. Every pony couldn’t help but follow suit. True, they loved Pinkie to death but when she talks, she could go on and on forever.
“So, Charlie, how was school today?” Twilight asked.
“It was alright I suppose,” Charlie responds.
“Are yah sure about that?” Applejack asked, raising an eyebrow. “When yah say that, it makes me think it ain’t so good. Remember, ah’m the Element of Honesty.”
“I promise Applejack, everything’s fine.”
But Applejack knew right then and there Charlie was lying through his teeth. She knew Charlie was already fusing about that last golden ticket, probably thinking of it during school that day. That alone probably distracts him, making school tougher to get through. Nonetheless though, she went back to her cupcake, but never took her eyes off Charlie.
Shortly after finishing their dessert, Charlie started to yawn and stretch, signaling that he was tired.
“Well, I’m heading off to bed.”
“Already darling?” Rarity asked.
“Yeah, I’m just really tired,” Charlie replied. “I want to make sure to get enough sleep for school tomorrow.”
With that said, Charlie gave his mom, his grandparents, and his friends a hug good night before heading to bed. Shortly after he left, Twilight and all her friends eyed each other curiously.
“You sure he’s alright?” Twilight asked.
“I’m not sure,” Fluttershy said. “He does seem very sad.”
“The poor dear must be dreading the finding of this last ticket so gravely,” Rarity added.
“Well, at least they haven’t found it yet,” Spike assured. “I’m sure there’s still a chance.”
“Uh guys!” Applejack called. “Ya’ll may wanna come and see this!”
Every pony turned over to Applejack, as she and all the others looked at the television which once again had another live news broadcast. They were all dreading what they were about to hear, but still they watched to see what was going to happen now.
“That’s it! That’s it! It’s all over! The Wonka Contest is all over! The fifth and final ticket has been found, and we’ve got a live report coming in directly now from Paraguay, South America.”
The image transitions to a black-and-white broadcast coming from South America where a Paraguay reporter waited.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, it is finished. The end has come. The fifth and last Golden Ticket has just been found right here in Paraguay. The finder is lucky Alberto Min~oleta, the multimillionaire owner of gambling casinos throughout South America.”
He holds up a picture of the golden ticket finder, for all the world to see.
“Here is the most recent picture of Alberto the happy finder, the man who has finally put an end to Wonakamania for all the world.”
“Turn it off,” Grandpa Joe said.
Mrs. Bucket turned off the television, as the atmosphere in the room changed drastically. What was once happiness and hope, soon were replaced by despair and heartbreaking with news that the contest was now over. Twilight, Spike, and all the others look at each other sadly knowing what it all means.
“Well, that’s it,” Grandpa Joe declared, dejected. “No more golden tickets.”
“A lot of rubbish the whole thing,” Grandma Josephine grumbled.
“Not for Charlie, it wasn’t,” Rainbow Dash said.
“He wanted so badly to win this contest,” Twilight sighed, sadly. “Just to finally have a single shred of something good.”
“I can only imagine how hurt the poor dear will be once he finds out,” Rarity said, wiping away a tear threatening to fall.
“Who’s going to tell him?” Grandma Georgina asked.
“Let’s not wake him,” Mrs. Bucket sighed. “He’ll find out soon enough.”
“Yeah, let him sleep. Let him have one last dream.”
Unbeknownst to any of them, poor Charlie was completely awake having heard the whole thing. He couldn’t control the tears spilling down his cheeks nor could he believe it was all over. He truly wanted this so badly, to finally have a chance to have something great. However, once again, fate proved unkind.
Back in the living room, Pinkie Pie was the only pony staring at the black screen of the television, as if she was in a daze. Every pony else looked toward her, noting how she remained frozen and couldn’t help but feel a slight concerned.
“Pinkie Pie, are you all right?” Fluttershy asked.
But Pinkie Pie did not answer right away. She just remained completely still and silent, like a statue in a garden. Cheese Sandwich slowly walked toward her side, placing a gentle hoof along her shoulder.
“Come on, Candy Floss,” Cheese begged. “Please say something, just something.”
The only response given to Cheese Sandwich was the sound of soft sniffling. Huge tears began to pool in Pinkie’s eyes, her lip trembles uncontrollably. After a moment or two, she finally broke down, crying while throwing her arms around Cheese. Cheese allowed his friend to cry into his chest, while rubbing her back to comfort her. The rest of her friends could offer her some small support.
“I-I-I just c-can’t believe it’s o-over!” Pinkie cried.
“Don’t worry, Pinkie,” Twilight assured, choking back her own tears. “Everything will be alright.”
“No… No, it won’t!” Pinkie sobbed. “We came here hoping to find a way to save Sugar Cube Corner, for the slightest chance to keep it in business and we haven’t had any luck. I hoped if Charlie won the contest, maybe we could talk to Mr. Wonka and see if he could help us. But now… Now we’ll never get the chance!”
Pinkie plants her face back into Cheese’s chest, crying harder. The sight of seeing their friend so distraught made tears fall from the rest of her friends’ eyes.
“Oh, I just can’t stand seeing Pinkie so upset,” Fluttershy whimpered.
“We’ve failed to help our dear friend,” Rarity sobbed. “Now she may have to leave us, forever!”
“We’re so sorry, Pinkie!” Twilight cried.
“Oh, don’t be sad for me, girls!” Pinkie cried, between tears. “Maybe something will turn up. So, what if Sugar Cube Corner was the greatest place in Ponyville? So, what if I move back to the Rock Farm? I won’t make a fuss; it’s just pushing rocks back and forth. With a family that can barely smile… Or even hug… Not even offer a sweet kiss goodnight before bed… OH, I’M GONNA MISS YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!”
Pinkie Pie left Cheese’s embrace, leaping into the arms of her best friends as they all, minus Applejack, cried out in sorrow. Cheese Sandwich trots over toward Applejack, the two standing by watching their friends crying their tears out.
“I really thought we could help her,” Cheese sighed, sadly. “I thought… ‘I’ could help her.”
When he turned toward Applejack, he could see she was thinking deeply.
“Something on your mind, Apple Juice?”
Applejack snapped out of her train of thought, acknowledging Cheese.
“First off, NEVER call me that. Secondly, don’t yah think something’s off about this whole darn thing?”
“What do you mean?”
“What ah mean is this whole thing about the last ticket just makes mah spine tingle. Usually when that happens, it means something ain’t right or some pony is lyin’.”
“Do you think maybe the last ticket is a lie?” Cheese asked, shocked.
“Ah’d be willin’ to bet Granny’s false teeth on it,” Applejack frowned.
After a moment, Cheese Sandwich walked off to the side and away from the looking eyes until it was just him. He thought for a second, wondering if it might be true. Could this ticket possibly be a fake? If so, then that would mean the contest technically isn’t over. That maybe there’s still a chance. The only question is: How could any pony find out for sure? Then, he got an idea, as he faced the sky seemingly at no pony.
“Excuse me, Mr. Narrator, sir. Or… Is it ‘sirs’? Anyways, could you please help me out? I need to know if this ticket is fake or not.”
Now Cheese, we know what you’re thinking, but you know as well as I that we’re not allowed to interfere with the story. I can only tell it as I see it.
“Please Mr. Narrator, Pinkie Pie is so upset. I really don’t want to see her leave Ponyville and neither do the others. But it’s not just about Pinkie Pie. After everything that’s happened, Charlie deserves one good thing in his life. Just one thing, that’s all I can ever ask for.”
I don't know...
We promised our fans we'd never interfere.
Cheese Sandwich got down on his knees, folding his hoofs seemingly in prayer.
“Please Mr. Narrator. Just this once, please help us… Help her… Help him… Help ‘me’.”
*Sighs* Well… Alright. But just this once. For what this is worth: I don’t want to see Pinkie Pie leave either.
Neither do I… We’ll see what we can do.
“Oh, thank you sirs! Thank you, thank you! I owe you one!”
You owe us TWELVE… Set the new scene.
<>
The next thing Cheese Sandwich knew, he somehow found himself transported from the Bucket house to the Min~oleta manor in Paraguay. Cheese looked around his new surroundings, he couldn’t help but admire the gorgeous mansion he was now in. He quickly shook the thoughts from his head through realizing he had a job to do. Cheese Sandwich faced the sky once again.
“Alright, I’m in. What do I do now?”
Listen to these instructions exactly because we’re only going to tell you just this once.
Go down the hall and up the grand staircase. Min~oleta has the ticket stashed away in his office but be careful. He’s a very paranoid man, known to have lots of enemies, he’s got guards posted everywhere.
“Gotcha! Thanks again!”
Don’t mention it, now hurry!
Cheese quickly galloped down the long hallway, turning the corner into the grand foyer. He heard approaching footsteps, quickly thinking what to do. On a whim, he noticed a large marble fountain in the middle of the foyer, jumped along the top, and posed like a statue. A few guards walked through the foyer, up toward the grand staircase. One of them paused for a moment, slowly turning to the fountain as Cheese tried to stay as deathly still as possible. After a moment, the guard shook his head and continued up the stairs.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Cheese Sandwiched jumped down from the fountain and quickly spun like a tornado. When he came to a halt, he wore a black turtleneck and knit cap. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a small grapnel gun and shot it up the staircase. Pulling the trigger, the grapnel gun propelled him up the stairs quickly and he proceeds to find the office. He ducks behind every corner, slowly peeling around to see the office at the end of the hall guarded by two burly men.
Cheese Sandwich reached into his pockets again, pulling out four plunger cups and placed them on his hooves. Using the cups, Cheese scaled the wall toward the ceiling slowly. He sneakily crept across until he was right above the door to the office. As he looked down, he noticed the door open and Alberto Min~olete, dressed in a fancy suit, made his exit and spoke with the guards.
“Make sure nobody enters this office under any circumstance,” He ordered.
The guards both nodded, as Min~oleta walked down the hall. Again, Cheese Sandwich reached into his pocket and pulls out a small robot with a wheel.
“Okay, little guy, time to go to work.”
Cheese Sandwich dropped the little robot toward the ground, watching it spring to life. The guards tried to grab the robot, but it wheels away leading the guards in a hot pursuit. When they were out of sight, Cheese grapnels toward the ground and enters the office. Cheese rummaged through the entirety of the office, hoping to find the golden ticket. He searches through the desk, the bookshelf, everywhere.
However, when he looked under the desk, he found a small red button. Pushing the button, the bookcase swung open revealing another room.
“Wow! Now that’s a pretty expensive bookcase.”
Cheese Sandwich slowly walked into the next room, where he found a giant printing press. He examines the machine and the surrounding area. There was a large assortment of paper and gold lament. However, turning to the left, he saw the golden ticket locked up in a glass box. Using his Earth Pony strength, Cheese wrenched the box open and pulled out the golden ticket. He examined it very carefully, studying every detail.
But it was just as Applejack suspected: This ticket was a fake and all the evidence was in this room.
“Ah ha! Thought you could sneak one over the world, huh Mr. Min~oleta?” Cheese smirked to himself.
Cheese Sandwich pulls out a camera from his pocket, taking as many pictures of the secret room, the printing press, and even the fake ticket. He holds the pictures up toward the sky, or in this case the ceiling of the room.
“Okay! I’ve got them! Now please make sure these get to the authorities so this whole thing can be discredited!”
The tickets appear to vanish from his hooves, knowing already they were on their way.
“Hey, thanks again for all your help!” Cheese thanked.
No problem.
Now, to get you back to the Bucket House. But don’t say anything about this operation, act as if everything’s completely normal.
Hopefully this should be all over the papers tomorrow and get the contest back underway.
Cheese Sandwich nodded, smiling in gratitude as he disappears back to the Bucket house. He knew he did a good thing today, not just saving the contest for Charlie but also getting another chance to help Pinkie Pie save Sugar Cube Corner. With any luck, this could really help him showcase his feelings for Pinkie Pie.
One can only hope, took a lot of time putting this whole sequence together.
Mm-hmm… So, who’s going to tell the big boss that we broke our own rules?
*Pause* Bathroom…
<>
*Meanwhile, in a separate room…*
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I finally realize why the narrator thing is so familiar to me. It's reminding me of Ever After High and Madeline Hatter talking to the young narrator and convincing her to interfere with the story. Not sure if it's what you were going for but I like this chapter.
Wow a fake ticket steal!
Nice writing!
Can’t wait for the next one
Hope you’re all enjoying the storyline
Who thought breaking the fourth wall would help?
10154009
you can say that again
That was a neat way for Cheese to discover the ticket was a fake
Well, as they always say, sometimes sadness comes before joy.
Great and clever twist on showing the fifth ticket to be fake!
10153962
i certainly am!
10154025
Then again, that's kind of a staple for MLP, is it not?
10153949
Yeah, that helps; been bugging me why it felt familiar.
10154129
Yep.
Poor Charlie and the Mane Six.
Good work, Cheese Sandwich! Just like what a superspy would do!
Keep going, man!
10154162
Cant wait for your magical commentary!!
Breaking the fourth wall like that!!!! I love it!
Great job. I mean it, great job!
or
10154259
great themes!!!
There's definitely a reason why a chapter like this took a while to put together. In a way, we at the C.A. community didn't want it to be just like any approach to the 'Willy Wonka' story most everyone knows or else this chapter as a whole would be disappointingly short. What often happens with any Wonka product is that a fifth ticket is supposedly discovered by a big wig, but mere seconds later it turns out that the ticket itself was fake (Even that one 'Victorious' episode had that same ordeal with the letters in the Ice Cream bit). What we hoped to do was explore the idea as to 'how' the ticket was fake and who would've been bold enough to reveal the truth. And no other way would've been just as entertaining without some fourth wall breaking.
Course, with Pinkie Pie out of commission being how much sorrow she's in, fearing that failing to help her bakery will force her to go back home to the Rock Farm, it was going to be up to Cheese Sandwich to do this one favor for her (Even if he's told not to tell any pony about his actions). So it was up to him to embark on this quest to Paraguay to determine the truth, even using a little help from the 'higher-ups' to not only get him there but sneak his way through the multimillionaire's manor hoping to find something out of the ordinary. It was not easy, he barely snuck past the guards, but through sheer lucky he not only discovered that the ticket itself was fake but he also determined 'how' it was possible. Otherwise, a completely different kid would've gone to the factory (From the humorless Miranda Mary Piker/Miranda Grope to conceited boy Marvin Prune).
10153949
That was a bit coincidental with the comparison, the C.A. department was merely having fun with this idea of making the 'narrators' essentially their own characters dealing with the shenanigans of their own cast. True, the concept is not entirely new and breaking the fourth wall has been done multiple times during the run of 'Friendship is Magic'. But in a way, it allows the writing staff the creative freedom to put a bit of their personality into the narrator roles.
10154009
Apparently Cheese Sandwich was willing to put that to good use. It's a good thing the narrators can be persuaded if they see this is all for a good cause.
So long as it don't become too much of a habit.
10154057
We definitely were having fun putting this notion together. Not only to give Cheese his spotlight moment in the story but to demonstrate how much he cares for Pinkie Pie so much he'd do anything to make her happy.
If be easy if the movie allowed for 'nine' golden tickets like they did during the original drafts, but for whatever reason it was determined 'five' is a good number. Even if the ponies or Spike were not able to be picked to go with Charlie to the factory, at the very least they'd be doing a favor for a friend. Who knows? Maybe something good will come of it.
10154306
Oh. Well, anyway, it's a great chapter.
10154166
Keep watching!
10154379
Oh, i WILL be!
Discord: Even the Queen wants to enter Wonka's factory.
Toola Roola: Hey, since when did this turn into a detective movie?
Coconut Cream: Yeah, I think we're getting off the subject.
Toola Roola and Coconut Cream: (in unison) Or not.
Trixie: Can't say I blame her about parting with her desire for seeing the chocolate factory, but what about Charlie?
Starlight: We'll soon find out.
Quibble Pants: (grins) Now this is more like it: Something good and filling to eat instead of plain old cabbage soup!
Wind Sprint: (happily) You said it, Quibble!
Discord: (chuckles, shakes his head in amusement) Same ol' Pinkie. Such a blabbermouth.
Maud: You can't go wrong with her.
Big Mac: Nope!
Pipsqueak: I don't think he means it.
Rumble: Neither do I.
Apple Bloom: We're dreading it, too.
Sweetie: We all are.
Trixie: (worried) Oh no! Don't let it be what I think it is!
Scootaloo: (sadly) No...
Sweetie: (likewise) The last ticket is found, and it's not by Charlie?
Rumble: (dejectedly) Then Charlie's dreams are dashed.
Zipporwhill: (sniffles, as her eyes welled up in tears) It's hopeless.
Apple Bloom: (as her eyes welled in tears) Poor Charlie...
Maud: (showing sad eyes for the very first time) Poor Pinkie...
(Then for the very first time ever, Maud started shedding tears.)
Maud: (sniffles) My poor sister...
Starlight: (choking back her tears) I've never seen her like this before, and yet... I feel very bad for her.
Trixie: (sniffles) So does the Great and Powerful Trixie...
(The foals are on the verge of tears as well.)
(Then the Cutie Mark Crusaders all started wailing, the same way they did when they thought they'd have their last day together, only that the other foals were crying with them. Starlight and Trixie hugged each other as they cried as well while Sugar Belle started weeping herself as she hugged Big Mac, who, despite shedding tears himself, was holding both his wife and Apple Bloom in comfort. In fact, when Wind Sprint was crying, she was hugging her mother and Quibble, both who comforted her. Maud embraced a solemn Mudbriar as she cried softly while he pat her back.)
Discord: (on the verge of tears) Ohh, I just can't bear to see or even hear Fluttershy cry! It's just... just... heart-wrenching!!
(Then he covered his face as he sobbed.)
All watching the movie: (stops crying, as they suddenly snap to attention, shocked) Lying?!?
Apple Bloom: (gasps) Applejack might be right! That last golden ticket could be counterfeit!
Scootaloo: I do hope so.
Trixie: Hey, what's goin' on here? Who's he talking to?
Truffle: I think he's talking to the Narrator.
Mudbriar: Technically, he's talking to two narrators who are in cooperation.
Discord: (surprised) Hey! This isn't in the original film!
Starlight: (gasps in realization) No, but I think I know what he's up to!
Sunburst: So do I!
Toola Roola: What do you mean, Starlight?
Starlight: Shhh! Just watch!
Apple Bloom: (smiles in delight) Hey! Ah know what this is!
Sweetie: (likewise) It's a mission!
Scootaloo: (grins) And Cheese is on it!
Starlight: (smirks confidently) That's right, my little ponies! Cheese is investigating this so-called ticket winner!
Discord: (giddily) Oooh, I like the sound of that!
Cotton Cloudy: Go for it, Cheese!
Discord: Phony Golden Ticket winner at 12:00.
Maud: (narrows eyes) He will pay for upsetting Pinkie Pie.
Mudbriar: Technically, he didn't do it deliberately, he unintentionally did it. (pause, then narrows eyes) Nevertheless, I agree with you.
Quibble: Bingo! A secret passage!
Wind Sprint: And a secret room!
Biscuit: Now we got him!
Spur: He's busted for sure!
Discord: Mission accomplished!
Apple Bloom: Now hopefully, things will get better for Charlie!
Sweetie: And maybe he could still get the last Golden Ticket for sure!
Scootaloo: He's gotta still get it! He's gotta!
Starlight: Let's just watch and see.
10154457
Once again, your magic is unparalleled!
10154481
Thanks, pal!
10154484
Anytime!
Oh yeah, nice use of the original scene at the end.
10154662
We do strive to add a teeny bit of originality once in a while.
10154884
And that's what makes it enjoyable
10154895
Yes, they do a really great job!
10154895
I concur!
Level 10 part 1: find the last TV in town
Level 10 part 2: help Cheese Sandwich bust the phony ticket but don't get caught by the guards