//------------------------------//
// Chapter 23 
// Story: A Nightmare Before The Night [CYOA] 
// by Selbi 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 23


“Breaking that thing open is impossible. I’d have better chances getting through Applejack’s stubborn brain than getting to my fireworks without that key.”

“You think so?” commented Spike.

“Yes, Spike. Now, excuse me. I have to go.”





“Now, where should I start looking?” She surveyed the busy village being prepared for the festival. It was evident that all the ponies were too occupied for Twilight’s silly problems. She trotted around the town center, looking any pony that at least had something as much as a break to talk to for one minute.

Eventually, her patience paid out, as Twilight noticed a mint-green pony sitting on a bench. She walked up to her.

“Oh hey, Twilight! What’s going on? You look rather stressed.” 

“Hello, Lyra. Yeah… I’m looking for a key, and I need it really, really urgently! You haven’t seen one, have you?”

Lyra put a hoof to her chin and started thinking. After a while she said, “A key, eh? Big, transparent, unique-looking?”

Twilight beamed. “Yes! That’s the one!”

“Well, I must admit I've seen such a key earlier, but I didn't pay it much attention and just left it there. I don't even remember where I saw it, admittedly…” said Lyra.

Twilight’s ears flopped and she lowered her head in disappointment for a short moment, before she got up again and said, “Oh well, you’re just one of many ponies I can ask.” She looked around, realizing she and Lyra were probably the only two ponies not working. “At least I hope so. Though I'm somewhat curious to hear why you would keep a key made of diamond on the ground.”

Lyra gasped. “Diamond?! I thought it was cheap glass or something, an odd party decoration. If I knew I would’ve picked it up the instant I saw it after I was done.”

“Done with what?”

“Hmm? Oh, my practice,” explained Lyra. “I’m going to perform later, but I’ve already practiced the whole week. I feel confident, and just wanted to chill here for a while. I mean, I would help Bon-Bon, but she explicitly told me not to come anywhere near her candy.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Why would she tell you to do that?”

“Well…” Lyra gulped and giggled awkwardly. “Long story short, I didn’t know you could actually set Bon-O-Lanterns on fire.”

Images of a mad Bon-Bon chasing Lyra through Ponyville with a rolling pin, both in ash-stained Nightmare Night costumes, reappeared in Twilight’s head.

“I can still feel the smack from that piece of wood today…”

“I can feel your pain, Lyra…” Twilight’s face straightened again. “Anyway, I need to keep on looking for the key. Thanks for your help!”

“No problem! I’d say you go check out the park or the coffee stand. I think I saw it somewhere around there.”









Only question, where to start looking?


→ Park? Go to Chapter 6!


→ Coffee stand? Go to Chapter 31!