Bibidi Boo trotted towards Barnyard Bargains quickly as everypony got out of her way. She didn’t have anything to buy per se, though more Pumpkins certainly didn’t hurt.
No. She was here for “lunch”.
And by lunch she meant Tidy Till.
She had recently made him her personal project, memorized his break patterns and knew when he got off. Looking towards the counter it appeared he was still taking an extended break. Oh well. She could just take an extended shopping session.
Tidy Till got to the counter and sat down smiling. The smile quickly turned to a frown and returned just as quickly when he saw the black mane and witch hat in the back. Every day the customer from Tartarus came by and bothered him. ‘Possibly literally’, he mused. ‘A gate was close by, and she was a witch. Literally.’
He wondered why the Princesses let her run loose, he just didn’t know.
‘Maybe,’ he mused, ‘I should try to get an audience with Princess Twilight to run her out of town - ok, maybe just the mayor.’
The mare trotted up to the counter. ‘Great,’ Tidy Till thought. ‘She’s walking up now. Celestia be merciful - let this end quickly.’ He put on his best smile and examined each object in turn.
The witch smirked. “Oh. I don’t want that one.”
“Of course.” Tidy Till put it back This was new. She always knows what she wants. At least her daily visits had that much mercy. But now she doesn’t want something... Worry gnawed at him.
And a few items later, it happened again. And again. And again.
‘She’d never even buy this stuff. Did she just...add it to her cart to make me ring it up? Is she just trying to get a rise out of me?’
“You never buy that,” he asked. “Why now?”
“Why what?” She smiled wryly.
“Are you just messing with me?” he asked. “You don’t buy this. You come here every day on the hour. Like clockwork! Why? just why?” His smile cracked.
Bibidi grinned. It was a vulpine smile. “You’re afraid.”
“Half the town is scared of you! Why me?”
“Because you’re afraid.”
“That’s not an answer! Why single me out?” Tidy Till whimpered.
“As you said, being afraid of me isn’t special.” Bibidi’s predatory grin widened. “Lots of ponies are. Nope, you’re afraid of this place. Being here tomorrow. The day after. The day after that. On and on and on. It’s delicious. Little old me is nothing.” Every inch of her face beamed.
“So you are just going to rub it in?” Tidy Till snapped. “What, is this some kind of sadistic witch game?”
“The best kind of game!” She grinned, tell-tale black magic spilling out of her eyes. The shadows lengthened and darkened, lapping at the corners of the room like rising tide. “Here, let me show you! Just how scary the sadistic witch can be.”
Tidy Till jumped over the counter and ran. His hooves hammered on the floor and his legs pumped like pistons and he scrunched his eyes tight. Whatever the witch was going to do, he wasn’t about to find out how scary she could be at the thought of a 9-to-5 being worse.
“Pumpkin Pumpernickel?” Bibidi asked the cowering Tidy Till in a sweet voice. He was bent over in the bushes and shaking like a leaf.
Tidy Till bolted upright, hit his head, and landed in a heap on the ground. “W-what?” he blurted. His eyes were wide with terror.
“I asked if you wanted a Pumpkin Pumpernickel muffin.”
Tidy Till’s eyes bulged even wider. “How did you find me?” he demanded. “You were all scary a moment ago! Now you’ve gone all sweet! What’s your game?”
“Oh, I won the game. You ran right out of the shop screaming. Lost your job, I’m sad to say.” Such a bold lie should have cracked the sky in half. “I just followed the smell of fear. Go on, have the muffin; it’s good for you!” It floated towards Tidy Till.
“My-” Tidy Till’s mouth worked silently. “My job? I lost my job?” He slumped down on his hooves and bit down absently on the muffin. “What. What am I - I’ve got nothing left - What am I going to do?”
“Dunno.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Guess you’ll just have to find out yourself. Here! A present!” A pair of saddlebags joined the muffin and plopped down in front of him.
Tidy Till rifled through them - filled to overflowing with the wares she’d bought today, and days besides. Someone had clearly been stockpiling these a while.
He looked up at her. “Why?” he asked weakly. “Just, Why? none of this makes any sense.”
“Because life’s an adventure Tidy, and you weren't just afraid. You weren't having any fun.” Bibidi grinned, a warmer grin this time. “Somebody had to scare you so bad you forgot to be afraid.”
Tidy Till just looked at her astonished. This had been to help him?
A great deal more happened to Tidy Till after that. But that is a story for another time.
