//------------------------------// // Meet the Buckets // Story: Cinematic Adventures: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory // by extremeenigma02 //------------------------------// Through the streets of town, the Mane Six, Spike, and Cheese Sandwich followed their new friend, Charlie, as he led them towards his home. They were still thankful to the sweet young boy, who offered them a place to sleep despite his family having very little. Deep down, they wished there was something that they could do to repay him. As they walked on, the sky began to grow darker, as the sun began to descend further along the horizon. So dark, in fact, the moon began to come up. Along the way, as they proceed down the sidewalk, they couldn’t help but notice a giant building blocked off by a giant iron gate. Passing by, they stopped for a moment to admire the giant factory building. Atop the giant gate were the name ‘Wonka’ in giant letters, just along the top. “What is this here place, Charlie?” Applejack asked. “That’s the famous Wonka Chocolate Factory,” Charlie responds. “This single place provides the best chocolate ever made and delivers all around the world.” Hearing the words ‘chocolate’ and ‘factory’ made Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich lean further against the bars, trying to get as close as possible. They stare at the factory with wide eyes, their mouths dropping toward the floor. “Chocolate factory,” They both said, dreamily. All their friends, minus Charlie, roll their eyes at the two, knowing full well that when it comes to sweets these two are always on top of it. Still, they all noticed the giant letters on the chimney lit up to spell ‘Wonka’ all in lights. As they looked on in amazement, they were completely unaware that someone else stood with them until they heard him speak. “Up the airy mountain Down the rushing glen We dare not go hunting For fear of little men.” They all turn toward a tall, older man with a receding hair line staring up at the factory. Once he noticed they were all staring at him, he looked back toward them. The girls and their friends couldn’t help but feel slightly scared, the very sight of this man alone came off as creepy. Fluttershy squeaked and hid behind Charlie, as the rest of the group silently look at the man for a few minutes. “C-Can we help you, sir?” Twilight asked, nervously. The man just slowly turns his head, looking down at the little lavender alicorn. Twilight faced many dangerous looking creatures in her life, but never felt as uncomfortable until this one instance. Her ears fold down on her head, as she looked down backing away from the man’s icy stare. The man himself just slowly stepped backwards toward his cart, which had an array of items but mostly knives. “You see,” The man continued. “Nobody ever goes in… And nobody ever comes out.” The man starts pulling his cart in the opposite direction, as they looked on. It wasn’t too long before he was a good distance away from the group. For a moment, no one said a word but merely stare after him with wide eyes. “Of all the creep, uncomfortable things I’ve ever seen, that definitely ranks at the top,” Rainbow spoke up. “I completely agree with you, darling,” Rarity nodded. “Yep, that there sure is one creepy individual,” Applejack added. The rest of their pony friends, including Spike, nod in agreement, as they watch the man disappear in the distance. Charlie turns toward the sky, noting how quickly it was filled with darkness. “We should keep going before the light is completely gone,” Charlie said. “My house isn’t that far away now; we should be there shortly.” With that, Charlie took off down the road while the ponies and the little dragon followed close behind. Soon enough, just as the moon was fully out, the whole group came upon a small, shack-looking house. “Well, here we are,” Charlie presents. “You and your family live in this little house?” Spike asked. Charlie nods his head, as they walk up the front door. As he was about to open the door, he paused when he heard a conversation from his family. “Charlie’s late,” An elderly woman spoke. “He works too hard for a little boy,” An older man added. “He should have some time to play.” “Not enough hours in the day,” Another woman spoke. “With the four of you bedridden for the past twenty years, it takes a lot of work to keep this family going.” “If only his father were alive,” The elder woman mentioned. “Soon as I get my strength back, I’m gonna get out of this bed and help him,” The old man declared. “Dad, in all the years you’ve been saying you’re going to get out of that bed, I’ve yet to see you set foot on the floor,” The younger woman points out. “Well… Maybe if the floor wasn’t so cold.” “Huh… Sounds like something we were just talking about in the last chapter,” Pinkie replied, scratching her chin. “Ooh, mysterious!” Cheese Sandwich nodded. The group of ponies and Spike turn towards the two, but at this point they knew better than to question anything. Especially coming from Pinkie Pie. While the residents inside were talking, Charlie turns toward the group. “I’m going in to explain things to my family,” Charlie explains. “I’ll signal you all to come in later.” “You go right ahead, Charlie,” Applejack answered. “We’ll be waiting right here until you’re ready,” Twilight assured. “Ooh, wait!” Pinkie cried. “I almost forgot.” Charlie turns as Pinkie reached into her mane. Before his eyes, she pulls out a large loaf of fresh-baked bread. “I made this today at Sugar Cube Corner. I know you said you don’t like handouts, but I feel you and your family should have it. I insist you have it.” Charlie takes the loaf of bread from the pink party pony, smiling at her. “Thank you, Pinkie Pie,” Charlie thanked her. “I’m sure my family would really appreciate this.” Pinkie blushed, waving it off like it was nothing while Charlie placed the loaf into his bag. “And I’ll be sure to keep every pony entertained,” Cheese smiled. “I just perfected my latest trick; check it out.” Cheese Sandwich pulls out a rubber chicken, which he proceeds to perform one of the strangest acts any pony has ever seen. He sticks the chicken in his ear, pushing it until no pony could see it anymore. Then, he squeezed his head between his hooves releasing a loud squawking through his mouth. While every pony thought it was odd, they found the trick hilarious. Charlie smiles, as he turns the nob on the door and walks in. Spike the Dragon leans in to listen, while his pony friends were preoccupied. “Hi everybody!” Charlie greeted. In the middle of the house, lying on a single bed were four elderly people. There was Grandpa Joe and Grandma Josephine, the only ones awake, while Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina were fast asleep. The only other occupant in the house was Charlie’s mother, who looked tired as if having spent a restless night working. Once the young boy entered the house, the three turn to see the boy enter. “Wake up!” Grandpa Joe called. “Wake up!” Grandma Josephine added. “Wake up! Charlie’s home!” Grandma Georgina and Grandpa George were startled awake, as Charlie walks over to the bed giving each of his grandparents a kiss on the head. “Grandpa George… Grandma Georgina… Grandma Josephine… and Grandpa Joe!” Charlie greeted. After giving each of them their kisses, he noticed Grandpa Joe was holding a single bowl with nothing but cabbage and water. He couldn’t help but grimace, as he grabbed the bowl and started digging through it with a spoon. “Is this your supper Grandpa?” Charlie asked Grandpa Joe. “Well, it’s yours too, Charlie,” Joe nodded. “I’m fed up with cabbage water. It’s not enough!” Hearing this, everyone in the room gasped. “Charlie!” “It’s all we have!” “What are you saying?” Grandpa Joe asked. Charlie reached into his bag, pulling out the loaf of bread that Pinkie gave him displaying it to his family. “How about this?” Charlie suggested. “Charlie, where did you get that?” His mother asked, curiously. “What difference does it make where he got it?” Grandpa Joe asked. “The point is he got it!” “A new friend of mine offered it to us,” Charlie reasoned. Hearing Charlie say that he had a new friend made everyone shocked, as they looked toward him. “You have a new friend?” Mrs. Bucket asked. “Well, a few new friends, actually,” Charlie explained. “I’ll introduce them to you in a minute. Besides, I’m sure there’ll be a lot more bread like this in the future because today is my first pay day.” Mrs. Bucket grabbed the load of bread from her son, smiling with appreciation. “Good for you, Charlie,” Mrs. Bucket said, proudly. “We’ll have a real banquet.” As she places the loaf onto the table, Charlie reached into his pocket and pulls out the rest of the coins, minus one, handing them to her. “Mom, here’s what’s left. You keep it.” Then, Charlie reveals the single last coin before his Grandpa Joe. “Except for this,” Charlie continued. “From now on, I’m going to pay for your tobacco.” Grandpa Joe looked toward his grandson, shaking his head with a smile. “No one is going to pay for it, Charlie,” Grandpa Joe assured. “I’m giving it up.” “Come on, Dad,” Mrs. Bucket insists. “It’s only one pipe a day.” “When a loaf of bread looks like a banquet, I’ve no right buying tobacco,” Grandpa Joe explained. “Come on, Grandpa,” Charlie begged. “Please take it.” Hesitantly, Grandpa Joe took the coin from Charlie and put it away. He didn’t really like the idea of buying tobacco, not when his family already had so little money that they could barely afford a loaf of bread. Still, Grandpa Joe just couldn’t find it in his heart to deny his own grandson a generous offering. In the meantime, Charlie turns toward his family. “You guys, I feel like I should tell you something,” Charlie began. “What is it, Charlie?” Mrs. Bucket asked. “Is something wrong?” Grandpa Joe added. “No, nothing like that. Today, while I was walking along doing my paper route, I met some new friends along the way. They’re a really nice group; I hope you will like them.” Charlie turned to the door, noticing Twilight’s eye peeking through. He motions them with a signal to come in and one by one, the ponies and Spike trot into the little house. To say Mrs. Bucket and the grandparents were shocked, seeing several colorful ponies and a baby dragon, would be a big understatement. “My goodness!” Mrs. Bucket gasped. “Charlie, what are they?” Grandma Josephine asked. The ponies and Spike all came up to stand alongside Charlie, as he held up his hands trying to calm his family down. “Alright everybody, I know this is a big shocking,” Charlie explains. “But trust me. These little ponies are very friendly.” “Ahem!” Spike cleared his throat. “And their little dragon too,” Charlie added. After a moment, Twilight decided to step up and say something. “Charlie is absolutely right; we are completely harmless.” Hearing the alicorn Princess speak made the Buckets’ eyes grow wide. “I was shocked when I first met them today,” Charlie explained, further. “I didn’t expect that colorful talking ponies or even a baby dragon existed. But once I got to know them and they helped with my paper route, they became my friends. I hope you don’t mind.” The Buckets all faced each other, after Charlie finished speaking. This was all still new to them and rather shocking. Still, they could clearly see Charlie grew rather close with these strange creatures. Just by looking into their eyes, they could see they were right about being friendly and harmless. Mrs. Bucket smiles, as she slowly approached the group kneeling to their height. She reached her hand out, brushing it across Twilight’s silky mane. “Well Charlie, if they’re really your friends I saw they are more than welcome here,” She said, sweetly. Twilight smiled brightly, gently nuzzling Mrs. Bucket’s hand. “Thank you so much, Mrs. Bucket,” She thanked her. “I feel I should also tell you mom they have nowhere to go,” Charlie explained. “I offered them to stay here for a while, if that’s okay.” Mrs. Bucket turned toward her son, as she regained her full height with a look of uncertainty. “Well, that’s very sweet of you, Charlie. But I just don’t know. We’re barely making ends meet as it is.” “Oh please, Mrs. Bucket,” Fluttershy begged. “We have nowhere else to go.” “We don’t intend to just stay here for free,” Applejack added. “We’ll all pitch in and help out around her any way we can.” “That’s right, darling,” Rarity nodded. “I understand you work with clothing, so I believe I may be able to help with your work. This way it won’t be so stressful on you.” As Mrs. Bucket looked among the group of ponies and the little baby dragon, she couldn’t help but smile at them all. Here they were offering to help her family, even though they just met. How could one possible argue with an offer like that? “Well… I suppose we can make room for you here for a while. We don’t have much, but you’re all more than welcome to stay.” Rainbow flew up into the air, doing loops around the room. “Awesome!” Rainbow cheered. Everyone in the room looked at her flying around the room in wonder. Eventually she came back down from the air, landing beside her friends. “I’m glad you guys get to stay here with us,” Charlie spoke. “Now I’d like to introduce you guys to the rest of the family.” Charlie led them over to his grandparents’ bed, as all four looked at them amazed. As Charlie introduced the ponies and Spike to his family, everyone became more acquainted with the new group. Before too long, the entire house was filled with laughter and fun as everyone (And every pony) got to know each other. After about an hour or two, Mrs. Bucket turned toward the clock noting it was time for everyone to head for bed. “Alright Charlie, I think it’s time to let your grandparents sleep,” She suggests. “I believe we should be able to make some space for your friends in your room.” Charlie nods in agreement, as he and his mother made their way to his room to set everything up for bed. Twilight and the others stood up, facing the grandparents. “It was really nice to meet you all,” Twilight smiled. “I think we are really going to enjoy staying with you.” “It’ll be really nice having you all here,” Grandpa Joe smiled back. “You’re all rather good company and we really thank you for helping Charlie.” The group smiles back, as they turned to follow Charlie and Mrs. Bucket into the boy’s room. It truly was rather small, but it looked as if it would have just enough space to fit them all. Charlie hopped into bed, as Mrs. Bucket laid a few spare blankets and pillows on the floor. When she finished, she turned toward the group with a smile. “It’s not much, but I hope it will do,” She said. “It’s perfect, Mrs. Bucket,” Twilight assured. “Thank you!” “We really appreciate everything,” Rainbow added. Mrs. Bucket smiles at them again, as she steps out of the room to make way for them to enter. They all walk into the room, as they settled into their makeshift beds. They all look back toward Mrs. Bucket, who smiled adoringly at the sight. “I hope you all have a pleasant sleep,” Mrs. Bucket said, sweetly. “I’ll see you all in the morning.” With that said, she turned off the light and walked off toward her room. The group tried to make themselves as comfortable as they could. Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Spike were squeezed in quite closely to each other. Fortunately, Spike was lying besides Rarity so there was a bit of a plus side to this. Pinkie and Cheese were paired up, snuggling up together. As for Rainbow and Applejack, the two ponies found themselves pinned against each other between the two groups. Their chests pressed together, one’s tail tucked under the other and vice versa, not to mention forced to lie eye-to-eye with their muzzles making contact, this was indeed a rather awkward position. But much like their friends, they were willing to make the most of it. “Goodnight guys,” Charlie said. “Goodnight Charlie,” They all responded. Afterwards, it wasn’t long till the whole group were snugged in and slowly drift off to sleep. Completely unbeknownst to them, a chain of events, which to some would be considered impossible, had already been set in motion.