Behind Closed Curtains

Earn Your Keep

-Third Person POV-
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"Hey! Wake up you got chores to do." Little Clown's head perked up out the loud shout. The voice was Sebastian.
"What time is it?" She asked.
"Chore time let's go." She glanced down at Jester who was sturing yet hadn't woken up. They haven't had safe place to sleep in months, it's the first good rest she's had. Little Clown got on her hooves and followed Sebastian. She didn't waste time arguing about chores since Shadow had already explained the con.
They approached a large cage containing a lion, it growled and roared at the ponies coming near it. "Yeah yeah yeah." Sebastion brushed off the beast as if he was an insect.
"What do you want me to do?"
Sebastian threw a large piece of meat into the cage.
"Clean it while he's occupied."
He handed her a broom, a mop, a backet and a key.
"You have about ten minutes til he's finished. So I'd get started if I were you." And with that he walked away. The child sighed and went up the ramp to the cage door. Taking a deep breathe she unlocked it and stepped in. She analyzed the lion as he chewed, trying to plan out her movements. She grabbed the broom and started sweeping up all the hair and feces from the lion. Nothing. The lion did not notice her, she dared not to sigh but she wanted to. Grabbing the mop she accidentally spills the water bucket. Cringing at the noise she watches the lion. His head only twitches.
She slowly starts mopping up blood from past feedings, as she goes to clean the last corner she sees the lion standing looking at her. Instantly her legs started to shake on fear, and she tried imagining him as a small cat that he really was and so she took the mop and moved it around as if it was alive. The lion pounced on it purring like a kitten, she reached her hood out and scratched right under his neck.
"Oh my God child get out of there!"
A mare with jewelry all over her face cried, her body covered in marks Little Clown did not understand, not all of them could be cutiemarks.
"Oh uh.. I'm alright Sebastian let me in."
The mares eyes filled with rage as the trots of the lion tamer were coming closer.
"Sebastian do you have any idea how unsafe it is to let a filly clean a lions cage!?"
Sebastian looked as if he had seen a ghost and had looked back at the cage with the child and lion.
"Well the Ringmaster said to give her some chores so.."
"So you try to kill her!?"
Little Clown did not understand this mare as her and the lion have seemed to have clicked. She pet his head one more time and left his cage with her cleaning supplies.
"No Miss really I'm fine he seems to like me."
Sebastian laughed.
"See Belle everything worked out great."
She huffed at him and stomped one of her hooves.
"If I see you endanger another child I will endanger you."
Belle looked over at Little Clown and extended her hoof.
"I am Belle Decór but you can call me Belle sweetie. What's your name?"
"I'm Little Clown and I guess I'll be staying here from now on. I have my little sister with me as well."
Belle got close into Sebastians face.
"Did you already feed her to the lion?"
Little Clown rubbed her neck.
"No he didn't she's back in the hay storage where we stayed. She's still very tired. I should get back and check on her at least."
Belle nodded and gave a small curtsy.
"If you ever need anything my trailer is just over there." She jestured to the right of the main tent.
"I am sure we will see you around."
Belle walked off and before Little Clown left to check on Jester, Sebastian put his hoof on her shoulder.
"You've only been here a day and already found something your good at. Now the lion is my act but Ringmaster bought some snakes recently that maybe you can try working with."
Little Clown nodded and genuinely smiled for the first time in a long time.
"Thank you I will definitely try my best."
She trotted off in a better mood than she had began her day. She was gonna be a snake charmer.