CHAPTER 11: DOWN THE CHOCOLATE RIVER
Pinkie lead the group of ponies down towards the Chocolate River.
Apple Bloom watched the mare bounce along with a large smile plastered on her face. She didn’t seem to mind in the slightest that Truffle could possibly be boiled in chocolate.
“Granny, do you think Truffle will be alright?”
Granny Smith looked down at the young filly, giving her the best ‘uncertain’ smile she could muster.
“Why sure he will. I’m sure Pinkie is just covering up her worry so we don’t feel so bad”.
Apple Bloom hopped that was true; because everything she’d seen was telling her otherwise. Pinkie had acted with caution only when Truffle was drinking from the river. But the moment he fell in, she didn’t seem to care at all. It’s like she knew that would happen (even though there was no way she could).
Apple Bloom continued to think about this until Pinkie came to a stop at a small bank near the waterfall. The group gathered around her; waiting to see what was next.
But as they waited, a sound began to reach their ears. Slowly, a drum beat began to fill the room; growing louder and louder each second. Along with that, the river began to ripple and wave; as if something was moving through it.
“Ah, right on time,” said Pinkie happily.
Apple Bloom looked over at Pinkie, who was staring intently at the waterfall. Suddenly, a large globe of shimmering light began to pass through it. The group gasped in surprise; mainly due to what was underneath it.
Beneath the glowing shield was a large pink boat!
It had a figurehead shaped like a beautiful mare, which curved into the rest of the boat like it was her body. The end of the ship was shaped like a sea-pony’s tail, and large oars stuck out from both sides. As the boat moved closer, Apple Bloom saw that more Oompa Loompas were seated inside it; at least 33 in total. But these Oompa Loompas had blue coats instead of red ones like the others she’d seen.
32 of them were divided into two columns; with which a group of four were stationed at each oar. One Oompa Loompa stood at the front, beating a drum in tune to the rowing.
The Oompa Loompas maneuvered the boat alongside the bank, positioning the oars so they wouldn’t collide with it. Once it was at a full stop, the Oompa Loompas looked at the group and bowed slightly.
Pinkie turned around and gave the group a smile. “Well everypony, this is our mode of transport for the day”.
“It’s beautiful,” said Scootaloo.
“Reminds me of the Viking Ships in Viking Attack 4,” said Button.
“It certainly is fancy,” said Rainbow Dash.
Pinkie grinned. “Only the best for my lucky guests. Now All Aboard; we don’t want to fall behind schedule!”
The group quickly filled into the boat, taking seats that were available near the back. Diamond Tiara and Filthy Rich took the one closest to the middle. Button Mash, Love Tap, Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash took the seats behind them. This left Pinkie, Apple Bloom, and Granny Smith to take up the back seat.
Pinkie looked over the boat, making sure everything was ready. Though she had to stop for a moment when she caught Button licking the boat.
“I ask all my visitors to not lick the boat; it both weakens it and makes it sticky”.
Button quickly sat up straight, licking a small piece of boat off his lower lip. Pinkie took a seat next to Apple Bloom before waving a hoof at the lead Oompa Loompa.
“Off we go,” she said cheerily.
The Oompa Loompa began banging on the drum again, which signaled the others to start rowing. The boat jerked slightly as they moved away from the bank and along the river. The group looked out at the Chocolate Room with wonder. Standing on it was one thing, but looking at it through a boat ride was even better.
“This is great daddy,” said Diamond Tiara. “I want a boat just like this; a beautiful viking boat”.
Granny Smith snorted and rolled her eyes. She leaned over so that only Apple Bloom and Pinkie could hear what she was saying.
“If you ask me, that filly has her wants and what she deserves mixed up. She wants a big fancy boat, but she deserves a good hard kick in the flank”.
Apple Bloom and Pinkie giggled, and Granny soon joined them. The others were too distracted by the scenery to notice.
“Ugh,” said Love Tap. She was swaying slightly, and was making a strange face. “I think I’m going to be sea sick”.
“How is that possible,” asked Button. “We’re not even on the ocean”.
Love Tap looked like she was about to respond. But instead she just held her stomach and groaned.
“OOOHHH,” said Pinkie with a grin. She pulled off her hat and began digging around inside of it. After a few seconds she pulled out a small, round, rainbow colored piece of candy.
“Here,” she said handing it to Love Tap, “try one of these”.
Love Tap looked at the object curiously. “What is it?”
“Rainbow Drops,” said Pinkie. “They help with most motion sicknesses. Plus it gives you the added bonus of being able to spit in seven different colors”.
“COOL,” said Button, eyeing the candy like it was a miracle from Celestia.
A few members of the group began to laugh; including Pinkie and Granny Smith. Apple Bloom wanted to join in….but then she noticed something. The long fields of candy plants were being replaced by dark granite-like walls of chocolate.
The light began to fade as the boat began to move towards a large, dark opening. Apple Bloom, partially in fear, gave Pinkie a few prods.
“Miss Pinkie, Miss Pinkie, we’re heading for a tunnel!”
Pinkie and the others stopped laughing and looked ahead. The candy maker nodded slightly.
“Oh right,” she said nonchalantly. Then she called out, “FULL SPEED AHEAD!”
“Hold on Pinkie,” called Rainbow Dash. “It’s pitch black in there. How can they see where they’re going?”
Pinkie stared straight ahead.
“They can’t,” she said silently.
“There’s no earthly way of knowing, which direction we are going...there’s no knowing where we’re rowing….”
Apple Bloom looked at the mare cautiously. “Uh, what are you talking about Miss Pinkie?”
Pinkie turned to the filly and smiled. “Nothing, the writer and me were just trying to get the reader’s hopes up”.
Apple Bloom and Granny looked at each other in confusion.
“Now that that’s out of the way,” Pinkie called out, “SWITCH ON THE LIGHTS!”
In an flash, lights turned on above them. Apple Bloom looked ahead, and saw a long tunnel stretching before them. It looked calm, peaceful, and had nothing dangerous about it at all.
….Too bad that wasn’t the case.
A few seconds later, the boat took a major dip downward. Ponies in the group started to scream; thinking the boat was sinking into the river. But it only lasted a minute before they noticed the boat wasn’t sinking.
Instead, the boat was flying down the chocolate river at breakneck speed. The incline they were on carried the chocolate down fast, turning it into rapids. The boat zipped around a corner, and shot over a hunch; splashing chocolate everywhere.
“PINKIE,” called Rainbow Dash, “WHAT’S GOING ON!?”
“Nothing,” Pinkie called back. “This is just how I get my chocolate to other parts of the factory faster. I can’t always rely on the pipes!”
Apple Bloom, who was holding onto the seat for dear life, smiled. “It’s just like a rollercoaster!”
“Yeah,” said Granny. She looked half scared and half thrilled. “But I think I’m a little too old for this ride!”
The boat zoomed around another bend, and went over more hunches that launched it into the air for a few seconds.
“Oh,” said Love Tap. She was holding a hoof over her mouth, and her cheeks were turning a light shade of green. “Now I am going to be sick!”
“Complimentary barf bag,” said Pinkie, holding a small brown bag out to the sick mare.
Love Tap grabbed it, buried her face into it, and let loose. Apple Bloom and the others looked away, disgusted.
The boat continued on it’s downward spiral until it reached a large opening. The boat leveled out, and the group (baring those who were barfing) looked around the area. It was a large, circular room. Lights hidden behind the walls gave the whole thing a glowing, dark look to it.
“Everyone,” called Pinkie, “keep an eye out as we’re going down the river. We’re going to be passing some very important rooms along the way”.
Apple Bloom looked around the room again, and notice three large doors to the right. Each one had a small dock and staircase attached to them. Glowing letters near the top told what rooms they were.
The three doors (according to the signs) held Whipped Cream, Coffee Cream….and MANE CREAM!
“Uh, Miss Pinkie, what do you use mane cream for,” asked Scootaloo.
Pinkie smiled and fluffed her mane. “Do you think I get this look naturally?”
The others didn’t seem to get the humor, so they decided not to push it any further. But before they could go back to looking around the room, the boat floated into another opening. Soon, the boat was sucked into more chocolate rapids.
The tunnel they were in now was much large, but it had support columns poking out in different places. The ponies gasped and jumped as the boat came close to hitting a few of them.
Apple Bloom kept scanning the walls, looking for more rooms. She caught a few that read Jelly Beans, Lickable Wallpaper, Nevermelt Icecream, and much more.
The boat turned down another smaller tunnel, sending them deeper below ground. After a few more twists and turns, the boat glided into the largest chamber yet. It was dome shaped, with a large light pouring from the top. A few more rooms were placed around the outside, while other tunnels branched off from different openings.
Pinkie looked around the room, stopping when she caught sight of one of the doors. “Oh, stop the boat. We’ve reached our destination!”
The Oompa Loompas maneuvered the boat over to the door Pinkie was pointing at. Apple Bloom watched as the door got closer, and soon she was able to read the wording above it.
INVENTING ROOM.