As the train carrying Cadance, Shining Armor, Luna, Spike, and Thorax drove through the night after leaving Canterlot, the occupants were currrently busy with a game of cards known as Small Talk. The objective was to rid yourself of your cards by placing any number of matching ones, such as three fives, into the middle. However, you could also group non-matching cards together and place those into the middle.

But, if somepony suspected that was the case, they would have to say "Small talk" or some other phrase, and the cards would be revealed. If it was true, the pony who called "Small talk" would draw two cards. If it wasn't, the pony who attempted it would return the non-matching cards into his hand and discard those in the middle.

So far, the game was going well for the five of them.

"Two Threes." Spike said, placing a pair of cards into the middle.

"Three Fours." Cadance replied, likewise placing her own cards.

"Four sixes." Shining added, placing a set of four into the center.

"Small talk." Thorax said, eyeing his own cards. Shining huffed and revealed the cards he had put into the middle, three sixes...and a seven. As he took his seven back and discarded the cards in the middle, Spike smiled at Thorax.

"Nice catch, Thorax." Spike said. "You learn quick."

"Thanks." Thorax said. "It helps I've become skilled in reading faces."

"How so?" Shining asked.

"Since we feed off emotions, being able to tell what other beings think through their expressions sort of...comes with it." Thorax said. "Two sevens, by the way."

As Thorax placed his cards in the middle, Luna smiled.

"Three eights." she smiled, placing them in the center as well.

"Small talk." Cadance said. Luna smirked aand revealed three eights, and Cadance drew two cards while Luna smirked at her.

"So, what do you think Twilight's up to?" Spike thought out loud. "I mean, wherever she is, she has to be doing something, right?"

"True." Luna said. "I'd like to think she's alive and well, and in good company."

"Same." Shining and Cadance replied. "Thorax?"

"I just hope she's alive." Thorax said. "I can't hope for much else, as I don't know her. Three nines."

As the game continued, each one of them let their thoughts return to their company at hand.

====
Atlas HQ

Exo Training Course

"Alright, start!" Gideon called over the intercom as Twilight prepared herself for another running start into the course. Ever since her arrival about a week ago, she had learned that the sun and moon rose and set on their own on Earth, and thus days and nights were much more even in some seasons and uneven in others.

Furthermore, the time period alloted to "day" and "night" was about twelve hours in the current summer season, meaning Twilight had longer days to train and learn at Atlas.

Her first step had been getting accustomed to the capabilities of advanced movement from her new Exo-suit, and then with Ilona's help, learned to use a firearm and Multi-use grenades in combat.

To the suprise of Ilona and everyone else, Twilight took to using a firearm quite easily with her magic and Exo's capabilities combined. She had managed to reach fifth place on the VR Firing Range yesterday, and was now dead-set on reaching fourth over Joker's score.

Now, she was on an Exo-Movement training course, a obstacle course designed for maximum use of Exo-assisted movement, such as gaps requiring a boost jump or normally insurmountable ledges.

Twilight leaped over one of these ledges and boost-slid under a wall before spinning around and boost-jumping up onto an open crate. Jumping down, she slammed into the ground and rolled to a stop, before sprinting to reach the finish.

"Time!" she called.

"Three minutes, forty-two seconds!" Gideon replied. "You broke your record from three days ago."

"Nice!" Twilight said, climbing up to the viewing balcony. "What's next?"

"You've got martial arts and fitness with Ilona." Gideon said. "Know where the gym is?"

"Yep." Twilight replied. "See you around, Gideon."

"See ya, mate."

As Twilight headed out into the sunlight, she smiled to herself. Her body was once a bit more...pudgier than the average pony due to her work in the library, but now she was quite fit and a lot more active than she had ever been. Furthermore, she was bunking with Ilona, and in the room next door were Gideon, Mitchell, and Joker.

So far, living the life of an Atlas Corporation operative wasn't bad at all. It was fast paced, and wild, but Twilight was enjoying the ride.

"Hey, Twilight."

She turned to see Mitchell approach and walk alongside her.

"Hey, Mitchell." she said. "Weren't you training with Joker on the T600s earlier?"

"Yep." Mitchell said. "Went by pretty quickly. By the way, Gideon told me you broke your record today. Congrats."

"Thanks." Twilight said. "I've got Martial Arts with Ilona now."

"Good luck." Mitchell said. "She knows her stuff, and she knows it well. I'd advise taking notes."

"I will." Twilight said. "Speaking of, do you know if Mr. Irons is around? I need his advice on something."

"He should be in his office from about now to six." Mitchell said. "What about?"

"I'm gonna get noticed by people outside of Atlas sooner or later." Twilight said. "I'd like to send a message out, just telling humankind that I'm here in peace, but I'm not sure how to do that."

"Yeah, Irons is a good idea for that one." Mitchell said. "That sort of thing is way above my pay-grade."

"I bet."

As the two of them laughed, Mitchell waved goodbye, as he was heading to the fitness center for a PT Session. As Twilight entered the gym, she was greeted by Ilona.

"Ready for more?" she asked as they stepped into the ring and deactivated their Exo-Suits. "I hope you did your homework."

"Oh, I did." Twilight said as the two of them began to spar, with a few other Atlas Corporation operatives watching them exchange blows.

====

As Twilight, now breathless and with a few more bruises, knocked on the door to Iron's office, she heard him say "Come in".

"Hello, Twilight." Irons said from his desk. "Training going well?"

"Yeah, I just finished a session with Ilona." Twilight replied. "Can I get advice on something?"

"Well, sure." Irons replied. "What sort of advice do you need?"

"I figured that my presence here on Earth is going to be...out there…sooner or later." she said. "I could use your help writing a letter revealing my presence and intentions here."

Irons nodded, and slid a laptop over to Twilight.

"Then let's get started." he said. "We've got some work to do."

Author's Note

Update!