Chapter 1

The Menace of Cornfield Clem

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Scooby-Doo! or My Little Pony. Scooby-Doo! belongs to Hanna-Barbera/Warner Bros. and My Little Pony belongs to Hasbro.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Welcome to the first holiday-themed story. This story was originally slated to be released in October of 2024, but due to complications, it got pushed back. Anyways, with that out of the way, let's get on with the mystery!

It was a late October night in the town of Cobb Corners, Iowa. Most people were sleeping. A few people, however, such as Levi and his girlfriend, Maizy, were setting up a haunted cornfield attraction for tourists.

"When someone goes by, this dummy jumps out to scare them," said Levi as he held a cardboard werewolf dummy.

"Cool! Oh, Levi, this is going to be the best Halloween harvest ever!" Maizy beamed.

"Especially since this year, you're my Corncob Queen."

"And you're my Corncob King."

Just before they could kiss, two people in ghost costumes came out with pathetic-sounding moans.

"Guys, it isn't even Halloween yet."

The two ghosts removed their masks and revealed themselves to be Applejack's siblings. Her older brother, Big MacIntosh and her younger sister, Apple Bloom. Big Mac was wearing the yellow ghost costume while Apple Bloom was wearing the other one.

"D'uh. We're practicing, Maizy," said Apple Bloom.

"Eeyup," said Big Mac.

"Well, don't let anybody see you or tell your sister. It'll spoil the surprise," said Maizy.

Just then, Levi noticed something strange in the distance. It was a strange-looking scarecrow. The scarecrow had a burlap sack for a head with glowing red eyes. He also had long arms made of hay and wore a tan shirt, dark grey pants, and brown gloves. In its right hand was a scythe. Maizy got out her phone and started recording to get a better look at the scarecrow. The scarecrow slowly turned its head and snarled at them.

"I-Is that another dummy?" Maizy asked worriedly.

The scarecrow then turned around to face them. Both Big Mac and Apple Bloom were terrified of the scarecrow's appearance. The scarecrow then chopped some of the corn stalks with its scythe and it roared menacingly at them.

"Th-Th-Th-Th-Th-Th-Th-That's no d-d-d-d-d-d-dummy. I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-It's C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-Cornfield C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-Clem!" shivered Apple Bloom.

"Eeyup," Big Mac nodded.

Cornfield Clem then extended his right arm to attack them with his scythe. Thankfully, they all managed to run away in time, as he only destroyed one of the jack-o-lanterns.

"Get out of my cornfield!" he snarled in an unsettling voice as he continued to chase them.

The next day, the gang arrived at Cobb Corners in the Mystery Machine. After their adventure in Australia, the gang decided to try to take it easy by spending their Halloween in the place where Applejack's parents grew up.

"We're here," Velma said eerily.

"I LOVE HALLOWEEN!" Pinkie shouted.

"Well, I don't," said Fluttershy. "It's scary."

"Oh, come on, Flutters. You scared us good last year," said Rainbow.

"I know, but it's still pretty scary with all of the freaky costumes and unsettling decorations."

"Come now, Fluttershy. It's mostly just pretend," Rarity said reassuringly.

"I guess."

"It says here that the Cobb Corners Halloween harvest festival has become so famous that families come from all over the state to have a spooky, but safe Halloween," said Velma as she glanced at her tablet.

"I'm so looking forward to it!" Daphne beamed.

"So am I!" said Sunset. "I still have that demon costume I bought back in high school. I'm just glad it still fits."

Shaggy, on the other hand, was busy daydreaming about all the corn-related food that Cobb Corners was known for. Fred then stopped the Mystery Machine, as he noticed that something was up. He was right. There was a town meeting to discuss the future of the harvest festival. The mayor, Mayor Husk, was panicking.

"Now, folks, I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation," he said, trying to get the townsfolk to calm down.

"Reasonable?" one of the townspeople scoffed. "Cornfield Clem is not reasonable. He's—It's a menace! I say we cancel everything right now, before someone gets hurt!"

The gang got out of the Mystery Machine and overheard the conversation.

"They're seriously going on with that Cornfield Clem nonsense?" Applejack scoffed.

"Who's Cornfield Clem?" asked Fred.

"Local legend ma and pa used to tell me about."

Applejack then noticed someone she recognized. A tall, skinny man that looked like a farmer.

"Hey, there's a friend my pa's. Let's see if he knows anything."

The gang ran up to the man and started asking him questions.

"Are they really going to shut down the Halloween festival?" asked Daphne.

"Eeyup," he said.

"All because of that dumb scarecrow legend, Abner?" Applejack asked.

"Eeyup."

"That's crazy!" Fred said in disbelief.

"Eeyup."

"Like, he sounds just like your brother," said Shaggy.

"Almost, Shaggy," Applejack chuckled. "At least Big Mac shows emotion. Plus, he's got a thing for Miss Cheerilee."

Just then, the mayor stated that the festival was too important to cancel ever since the toothpick factory closed down. The sheriff, Sheriff Kern, a woman who takes her job seriously, agreed that the festival would continue without any more disruptions.

Once the meeting was over, the gang overheard Maizy arguing with her boyfriend, Levi.

"Dumb old Cornfield Clem!" she grumbled. "Why did he have show up now, when I finally get to be Corncob Queen?!"

"Maizy! He'll come after us," he said, trying to shush her.

"He already came after us, dum dum!"

"Excuse me, but can we talk?" Velma asked politely.

Both Maizy and Levi glanced at each other unsure of what to make of this. How were they going to explain this to their friends' sister? They knew they had to trust them. After all, they wanted the festival to go on and become Corncob King and Corncob Queen for the haunted corn maze.