A glimmer in a world of zombies [act 1][earth chapter]

Chapter 9: Unexpected Arrivals and Killer Clowns

Earth – The Road to Philadelphia

The RV rumbled steadily down the ruined highway, the sun casting long shadows over the abandoned landscape. Sam kept his hands steady on the wheel, Pops sat in the passenger seat with Kenny’s massive head resting on his lap, and Starlight sat at the small table near the back, occasionally glancing at the enchanted mirror they had propped up in a safe corner of the RV.

The ponies back in Equestria were still watching. Twilight had been furiously taking notes, trying to make sense of the magic that connected the mirror to this other world.

Pops took a sip from his canteen. “So, how much farther till Philly?”

“Shouldn’t be more than a couple hours,” Sam answered, glancing at the fuel gauge. “We’ll stop in a few miles to siphon more gas, then push through.”

Starlight leaned back. “Good. Hopefully, we won’t have to fight any more freaks today.”

Fate, however, had other plans.

Equestria – Twilight’s Castle

Trixie paced back and forth in frustration. “This is taking too long! We should do something!”

Twilight sighed. “We are doing something, Trixie. We’re studying the mirror, analyzing its magic—”

“That’s not fast enough!” Trixie huffed. “What if Starlight is in danger? What if—”

WHUMP!

Without warning, the mirror flickered and sucked Trixie in.

The ponies gasped as she vanished in a swirl of magic.

Twilight’s eyes widened in horror. “Oh no. Oh no no no—”

Earth – The Gas Stop

The RV pulled to a stop near an old, abandoned gas station. Sam and Pops immediately got to work siphoning what they could from the half-ruined vehicles littering the road. Starlight stayed nearby, watching for any undead. Kenny sniffed the air cautiously.

Then—

THUMP!

A very confused blue unicorn suddenly dropped out of nowhere, landing right next to Starlight.

Starlight blinked. “Trixie?”

Trixie groaned. “Ugh… Where am I? One moment I was talking to Twilight, and the next I—”

She froze as she took in her surroundings. The ruined landscape. The burned-out cars. The massive dog staring at her.

Then she turned her head and saw Sam and Pops.

“AaaaaAAHHHH—”

Starlight quickly clamped a hoof over Trixie’s mouth. “It’s okay! It’s okay! They’re friends!”

Trixie’s wide eyes darted back to Sam and Pops.

Pops gave her a warm grin. “Well, ain’t this a surprise? Welcome to the apocalypse, kid.”

Sam gave a small wave. “Sup?”

Trixie removed Starlight’s hoof, taking a deep breath. “Okay… okay… Trixie is… processing this.”

She looked at Starlight. “What in Celestia’s name is going on?!”

Starlight sighed. “Long story. But for now, just trust me. These guys? They’re the reason I’m still alive.”

Trixie hesitated… then nodded. “Fine. But if they try anything funny—”

Pops chuckled. “Relax, darlin’. Only thing funny ‘round here is my old ass still kickin’.”

Trixie blinked. “I… actually like him.”

Sam smirked. “Most people do.”

Before they could continue, Sam spotted something interesting in the distance.

“Hold up,” he muttered. “That a snack truck?”

Breaking Into a Snack Truck

The truck was parked on the side of the road, covered in dust but still intact. The logo on the side read “Hostess”, which immediately sparked hope in Sam’s eyes.

“If there’s Twinkies in here, today might not be so bad,” he muttered as he broke the lock and climbed inside.

Pops followed, helping dig through the crates.

“…Well,shit.”

Sam held up a box of Snowballs.

Pops smirked. “Not Twinkies, but hey, chocolate and marshmallow? I’ll take it.”

Sam sighed. “Man, I hate Snowballs.”

Pops laughed. “More for me, then!”

They packed up as much of the snack food as possible, securing it in the cargo container. Starlight and Trixie watched the whole thing, utterly baffled.

Trixie leaned toward Starlight. “They’re looting desserts?”

Starlight shrugged. “It’s been a long few days.”

As Sam closed the truck doors, an eerie sound drifted through the air.

A distant, faintly cheerful jingle.

Ting… ting… ting…

A haunting, warped version of an ice cream truck’s song echoed through the dead city.

Sam immediately froze. “…That’s not good.”

Kenny growled.

Then, from around the corner, an actual ice cream truck rolled into view—its speakers still blaring the eerie jingle. The truck was covered in dried blood and handprints, with gruesome symbols painted across its exterior.

The driver’s side door opened… and out stepped a clown.

Not just any clown—a heavily armed clown.

A second one climbed out, then a third. Each was dressed in disturbing, bloodstained carnival outfits, their grinning masks hiding their true faces. One of them held a machete. Another had a shotgun.

The lead clown, dressed in a tattered red and yellow suit, spread his arms wide.

“Well, well, well… What do we have here?”

Pops exhaled. “Son of a bitch.”

Starlight’s horn flared, and Trixie backed up nervously.

Sam cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders. “Lemme guess. You guys aren’t here for friendship and ice cream.”

The clown chuckled, motioning toward their truck.

“We sell things,” he said, grinning beneath his mask. “Meat. Special meat.”

Sam narrowed his eyes. “Lemme guess. You ain't talking about beef.”

The clown’s grin widened.

Sam sighed. “That’s what I thought.”

The clowns drew their weapons.

Pops growled. “Goddamn cannibal clown freaks…”

Sam pulled out his rifle. “Alright then. Let’s retire some clowns.”

Trixie blinked. “Retire? What do you—”

Before she could finish,all hell broke loose.

The Battle Begins

The fight was fast and brutal.

Sam fired first, dropping one of the clowns with a headshot. Pops followed up, blasting another with his shotgun.

Starlight used her magic to send one clown flying into a streetlamp, knocking him out cold.

Trixie, still freaking out, blindly fired off a spell—accidentally setting one of the clowns’ hair on fire. He screamed and ran in circles before tripping over his own feet.

Pops laughed. “Nice shot, kid!”

Sam ducked as the lead clown swung at him with a machete. He dodged left, then drove his Bowie knife into the clown’s gut.

The remaining clowns realized they were losing and tried to retreat back to their truck.

Pops had other ideas.

Grinning, he grabbed one of the Snowballs from his bag and chucked it at the fleeing driver.

The clown turned—just in time to get a coconut-covered marshmallow snack smacked into his face.

He stumbled—right into Kenny, who tore him down.

Pops cackled. “Snowballed his ass!”

The battle ended moments later. The last of the clowns lay motionless, and their ice cream truck was now abandoned.

Sam wiped blood from his knife. “Well… that happened.”

Trixie stared. “…This world is insane.”

Pops grinned, lighting up a cigar. “Welcome to the party, kid.”

They looted what they could and got back in the RV, driving off toward Philadelphia—leaving behind only the wrecked truck and a pile of dead clowns.

To Be Continued…