The graveyard shift. Not a particularly sought after shift for most ponies. The world seems to almost stand still during this time as the rest of the world sleeps. Not for one pony though. This sort of shift is not uncommon to them though. Late nights working while the rest of the community sleeps. Around the season of Nightmare Night however, are often a bit more harrowing than what most would put up with. Old ghost stories come alive in the late night hours for the unwary.
One pony to make the rounds for this part of town. They were new to the job, but was picking up on the way of things quickly, they had to. The first steps were easy. Simply take whatever package had been ordered to the old ranch on the edge of town, leave it where it would be easily found in the morning, and leave right after. The pony had already crossed the threshold of the property and was making their way up the dirt path when something caught their attention, or rather, the lack of something. A scarecrow, rough sewn and made from old clothes was supposed to be mounted on a cross pole near the edge of the field just on the other side of the fence that separated the path from the field. It had been seen before on previous runs. How feminine the scarecrow looked would always draw their attention just for a moment. This one was too new and the pony had not yet learned all the tricks to make it through these deliveries. They stopped in their tracks and pulled out the parchment they had been given to read over. Only two deliveries to this location prior and the details about some of the rules were still a bit hazy.
"Congratulations! You have been hired as the overnight delivery driver for Hallows End Delivery Company. The pay and benefits are good, but you must follow the rules if you want to survive your deliveries to your designated location." the letter read. The rest of the letter was scanned for anything regarding the current situation. A quick look around at the cornfield confirmed the scarecrow was not in the usual spot.
Peddlehoof Ranch Rules:
Rule #1: When you arrive, do not attempt to hop the fence. The entities there will think you're an intruder. Simply approach the archway sign for the ranch, ring the bell twice, then step onto the property via the dirt path.
Rule #2: Your package must be delivered to the porch of the farmhouse. NEVER leave it by the barn or shed. Even if your package requires a handcart to move, make sure it reaches the porch each time.
Rule #3: If you hear something moving within the cornfield adjacent to the path, ignore it. Don't stop and continue on your way to the farmhouse.
Rule #4: The scarecrow on the edge of the cornfield will follow your movements with its right eye. Don't panic. This is normal. However, if its left eye socket starts to glow brightly, freeze! Don't move and maintain eye contact with the scarecrow. Only after the light in the eye socket goes out is it safe to move again.
Rule #5: If you see the hat from the scarecrow blow by, don't chase after it. Don't pick it up even if it comes to a stop in front of you. Don't turn around, even if you hear the scarecrow call out to you.
Rule #6: If you see the scarecrow is missing from the cornfield, don't linger in one spot too long. You are being hunted and should keep moving. Finish your delivery as quick as you can and get back to your truck. Don't take any shortcuts through the fields.
Rule #7: If the path seems longer than usual and takes a turn toward the fields suddenly, stop, count to ten, then turn around. You should now be facing the correct pathway leading toward the farmhouse.
"Remember these rules, deliver your package faithfully, and good luck." the parchment read. Trembling hands tucked the parchment away as the gaze from the pony shot around frantically after reading rule 6. How long had they been standing there? Could the shuffling among the cornstalks actually be ignored this time? Questions for later as the pony took off toward the farmhouse at a near dead sprint. Whatever was in the box they carried rattled around inside as they ran. The path leading up to the farmhouse seemed to grow ever longer with each step taken, seeming more like a treadmill than a dirt path now. The pony skid to a halt and spun around quickly. No farmhouse in sight. They turned again. Only cornfields. They turned once more and came almost face to face with the scarecrow that had been in the fields. She looked down at the delivery pony with one eye, the empty eye socket still seeming to bore into them with its gaze.
"Is that for me?" the scarecrow asked with a soft almost melodious voice. This close, it was clear to see the more feminine features of this creature. The swell of its hips and chest were details not often found upon something meant to scare away avian pests. The features were too lifelike as if this creature had at one point been a real pony. The scene would have been very alluring had the situation not been so terrifying. It looked as if the scarecrow had suddenly appeared in the pathway, but was still mounted on its pole. The delivery pony took a step back to try and move around the creature before it's left eye began to glow brightly.
"No no. Don't move. I like you right where you are."
