Shadow sat at his workbench tinkering with his rifle. He was examining it’s wear patterns and checking for trouble. There wasn’t even a hint at any possible complications. The rifle was clean since he had barely fired it on his last excursion.

Every time he pulled it apart, it reminded him of where he had gotten it. He wished he could visit Dry Dock City again, but if he did, he knew he never would leave. He still had hope of going home.

But that meant he needed to try and get a message above. DJ Pon3 was on the radio as background noise. When they first went to Manehatten, the plan was to raid his station and use it to contact above. He couldn’t raid it on his own, but he could see if it had what he needed.

It was the best move he could make, so Shadow began to plan. He replenished his med kit and began to pack. He wanted to get more medical supplies while he was in Trottingham before he left, in case he came back in need of them. And he wanted some better traveling food. He would go through New Appleloosa as a good pit stop.

Shadow had spent most of his time recovering sewing. He sewed a bigger Black Widow suit to fit over his armor. It would make field changes easier, if he had to rely on that.

Shadow went shopping and then packed everything up. He would feel out Manehatten while striking it as Black Widow. His target would be raiders, unless somepony gave him a reason to go after them.

Shadow was in bed before Strawberry was home and gone before she was awake. Unlike the last time he traveled the rails out of Trottingham, he moved quickly. Even when he wasn’t trying to, he still moved faster than the caravan did.

He spent the first night with a Hive Caravan that had left the day before. The Operators knew him. It was always best to camp together.

Shadow took third watch and after breakfast, he soon lost sight of them behind him. It was a simple, smooth trip to New Appleloosa. He cut across the country to Manehatten, ignoring the roads. He felt it was safer for a single pony. At one point he camped in the same cave he had used several times on the way to and back from The Slog. It was cozy and safe. The cave was little more than a divot in a short cliff. But it worked well enough.

The skyline of Manehatten came into view the next day. It forced Shadow to stop. It hurt. He had to seal his heart. This city swallowed Storm. It was their demise as a team. They lost their technical specialist, and their last chance to get a real message above.

This city was dark, but not evil like Fillydelphia. Fillydelphia had a blood lust. It was blood. Baltimare was a survivor, beautiful but strong. Like a wildflower that grew in the toughest places. New Appleloosa was free, but complicated. A puzzle. Trottingham was proud, like a valiant warrior.

The city wasn’t getting any younger, and Shadow was getting chemicals just standing there. He had a mission. There were raiders inside those ruins. Plenty of bloodthirsty raiders that Black Widow needed to deal with. He had a lot of chains he needed to forge for the reunification.

Shadow trotted off towards the city. His heart was finally ready to face the ruins of the city. He was alone. No friends to be killed.

The ruins blended together pretty quickly. Night was falling, and the forsaken land lost the little light it got quickly. Shadow dug into the attic of a second story house.

Shadow should be hunting raiders during the dark. But for now, he wanted to keep to the day. Until he found something to hunt, he needed to keep his head. Sleeping at night was natural and best.

Shadow began to search the ruins as he slowly made his general way towards Tenpony Tower. Eventually he saw a worn sign that peaked his attention. “Manehatten Zoo.” It had a variety of creatures painted around those lines. Zoo was a word Shadow didn’t know. He would ask at Tenpony Tower.

Shadow came upon the place he remembered. A turn down a side street ahead would take him to the area with the Manticores and where Storm died. The city was silent. No Manticores were present. Shadow wanted to pass it and forget it, but he couldn’t and found himself taking the street.

It was just as they left it, minus the Manticores. Their bodies had been picked clean with only a scattered bone to pay homage to the battle. But no one would see a battle. The wall that had fallen on Slice looked natural in this setting. Like time had forced it to fall.

Shadow walked around to the back of the building. The pile of toxic sludge was still there. He had tossed that crazy pony into it. And then he disappeared. But he appeared to be alive when he stopped rolling.

Shadow checked the rooftop. It was deserted. No sign of Manticores or any more recent life. The wind kept the building swept clean.

Shadow sat down, overtaken by grief. After Silent had died, it had been weeks, whole adventures, before Storm was claimed. They had thought they were almost invincible from death. Not injury, but death. Storm proved that wrong. And then Nor fell right after.

He lost track of time as he was overtaken by grief. Finally he got enough of his senses to stumble away and hide in another building. The inaccessible third floor.

Shadow woke up late and sore. His body had taken a beating from the grief. But he wasn’t sorry. He did what he had to do.

Shadow ate quickly and began to move out to Tenpony Tower. He had to get there to believe he had made some progress. It didn’t take him long.

But the city entrance was all the way up on the tram network, specifically the Celestial Line. Ponies came and went all the time from the tower, so it had to be reasonably accessible. It gave him the time to find a solid place to stash his troublesome pieces. In the upper floors of a nearby building he found a wall safe, connected to a terminal. It was big enough to fit the suit, his sword, and Soarin’s Lightning inside. He locked it with the Inquisitor’s code system via the PipBuck he carried.

Once he got up to the Tower, the security was impressive. It was a good thing the Inquisitors hadn’t tried to visit. Everything they were was restricted. He had to check his ammunition at the front. Guns were allowed, but not ammunition. He was glad he secured the items he did because they would have been suspicious and he couldn’t let them know he was Black Widow.

They sold some non-lethal ammunition. They had two interesting pieces of non-lethal rounds. They had 12 Gauge bean bag rounds. Shadow had left his home in Trottingham. Shadow bought 30 of the beanbag rounds. They also had a small stock of 44 Magnum rubber bullets, which probably would become enchanted if he fired them. He decided to not bother with the 5.56 rounds.

Reloaded with new ammunition he was finally able to enter the city. It was an amazing structure. The main floor was shops. It was all high class, fancy, stuff. The inside was a solid rival for the Lux with its marble and chandeliers.

Shadow secured a room for the night to start. Then he began to shop. It all was well above what Shadow would usually pay for. He would limit his stay here.

Shadow also noticed there was a lack of ghouls. It wasn’t that Trottingham had a lot of ghouls, but one of the main trading shops was owned by a ghoul. They were a big minority, but around.

After he noticed it, he remember the argument at the Slog. The one he got involved in between Orange Harvest and Governor Amber. They mentioned something about Tenpony Tower and ghouls. And it wasn’t a good thing. And that is what the outside sign must have meant when they said “No Zombies.”

Shadow sat observing ponies from a restaurant. He preferred the more open places in Trottingham and New Appleloosa. They allowed him to observe things in a wider context.

When the server came around again he ordered another sparkle cola. They were almost double the cost they were in Trottingham.

“Also a question,” Shadow said. “What is a Zoo? I saw a big prewar sign for it on my way here.”

“A zoo?” She asked, confused. “For animals?”

“Uh,” Shadow stumbled. “The sign had animals on it. And said Manehatten Zoo. I have no idea what a Zoo is.”

“How do you not know what a zoo is?”

“I’m not from here,” Shadow sighed. “Like anywhere near here. I have never heard of a zoo.”

“Oh,” She said taking a step back. “A zoo is where ponies used to keep animals. A place they could come from all around and visit them. Animals from all over that they never would get to see otherwise.”

“Oh,” Shadow snorted. “Simple enough. How did I not know what that was? Oh well. Thank you.”

She backed away several steps before finally turning away. Shadow sighed. These ponies were xenophobes. He had to be careful. They were nervous and could easily boot him, without giving him his gear. He could easily fix that, but it would be a pain.

As Shadow left the restaurant he was approached by two guards.

“You the one interested in the Zoo?” One gruffly asked.

“No,” Shadow replied. “I just didn’t know what one was.”

“That’s unlikely,” The other grunted.

“So what?” Shadow shrugged, getting ticked off. “I didn’t know what one was. Now I do. Its a place where ponies used to keep exotic animals and display them.”

“I don’t know,” The first one said to the other.

“Is there a real problem here?” Shadow asked. “Or a problem with the Zoo?”

“You would do best to stay away,” The second warned him. “The Pack runs it. And they are trouble.”

“The Pack?” Shadow asked with an eyebrow raised. “A raider gang I assume.”

“Ignorant fool,” The first spat. “Yeah. A nasty group who came from Filly recently. Stay away.”

“I have no interest in joining them,” Shadow assured him.

“I am sure you were warned at the front,” The second said, aloof.

“Yeah yeah,” Shadow replied annoyed. “Raider activity is strictly forbidden. Anything like that is strictly forbidden. Harsh punishments if I am found guilty. I know how to read and I know how to obey your rules.”

“And how did you get your current wallet of caps?”

Shadow rolled his eyes. “From a contract for the Hive Caravan.”

Shadow stepped past them and headed to his room. He needed to plan. First thing he did was turn the radio on. He needed to find the radio station center. Nor had calculated it as being on the top of Tenpony Tower. Which meant he was directly under it.

As Shadow planned, he decided the best thing was to rest up and hit The Pack. Leave and knock them out of the scene. They were the new gang on the blocks. But Black Widow was newer. And meaner. There was no mercy, only right and wrong. Black or white. And they were as black as Shadow’s mane.

Shadow rested easy and tried to figure the city out. He had to decipher how to get to the radio station on top. That was easier said than done. The security was tight and the building corners were blocked off. The best way in would be from the top. He would have to scout it out from the outside, without being seen.

Next Chapter: Chapter 127 - The Pack Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 59 Minutes