(Tuesday; 21st March 2017; 4:56 AM)

Train Wrecker had just arrived at the Wonderbolts Academy for his first day at work. And just in time for physical training! Now, looking at the rather geeky Train Wrecker, "brawn" isn't the first word that comes to mind. But looks can be deceiving. Becoming a Wonderbolt wasn't a spontaneous decision for Train. He had exercised a ton before even considering to apply and developed a stable workout routine over the last couple of years.

Upon entering the gym, the first thing he saw was Rainbow Dash, sitting on the bench. She was lifting 500 pounds with her bare wings, small drops of sweat dripping down her cyan coat. She was wearing a light gray sports bra, which was hugging her petite body tightly. Her face lit up as she noticed the stallion from yesterday staring at her.

"Hey, my eyes are up here, big boy.", she put the dumbbell aside and sat upright.

Train's face eyes immediately shot upwards.

"Pardon me! Sweet Celestia, you've got a nice set of muscles!"

Dash just giggled proudly and gave him a flex of her veiny wings.

"You don't become the fastest and best by jacking off all day, y'know? I never waste any time. I'm a splendid pony! You never see my coat dirty."

"You've got a beautiful body, I mean it.", Train let slip.

That comment made Dash smirk even prouder.

"Oh, hush up. You have quite a nice look yourself. I didn't catch your name yesterday, by the way."

"Train..... I'm Train. And.... Thank you. Really, I'm so happy to be here."

"Y'know, we should totally hang out sometime. How about we meet up at break? We can chat more then."

Train smiled from ear to ear, nodding violently.

"Oh, why, of course! I would absolutely love to!"

"Sweet! I'll see ya then!" Dash winked at him and went back to lifting, Train soon following suit.

After physical training, the Wonderbolts went on to flight training with Captain Spitfire. Though she is a very understanding mare underneath her titanium shell, she sure could be a hardass. She'd do anything to motivate her cadets and wouldn't waste any opportunity to teach them a lesson and strengthen their will.

So, naturally, when she noticed Train Wrecker was lost in thought, staring holes in the sky, her Drill Sargent instincts kicked in.

"Changeling Boy! Quit dreaming and concentrate, damn it! Don’t tell me you avoided that coat hanger for 11 whole months just to bucking give up now!", she yelled, catching him completely off guard.

"I am focused, Captain Spitfire, ma'am!", Train replied.

Spitfire smirked, scoffing at him.

"Are ya sure? I wouldn't want you to be all bark no bite."

"I swear, Captain Spitfire, ma'am. I dont disappoint. Not anymore."

"Well, in that case, get your fat flank off the ground and demonstrate!"

Train quickly acted, putting his flank in the air and readying himself to set off into the sky.

"Oh, no, no, no. Not so easy. Up for a challenge?"

Train's ears perked up in intrigue.

"Eversince I heard you were a Changeling, I've been wanting to see you in action. So, how about you show what you got?", she dared, keeping her smug, yet genuinely interested expression.

"I don't discriminate after all. If my own mother was in basic training, I'd smoke her flank too!", she added proudly.

Train's expression changed. It turned quite confident actually.

"You know what, Captain? You're on."

With that, Train took a few steps back and closed his eyes, while everypony else's eyes were on him. He tried his very best to concentrate and channel all his thoughts. He hasn't done this in years, but his father taught him well. He changed into his Changeling form and to the surprise of the others, he didn't look like a regular, Pre-Thoraxian Changeling. He was light blue with orange, non-reflective eyes and a way friendlier appearance than most would think when they hear the word "Changeling".

He leapt forward, and maneuvered in the air, doing various flips, loops and stunts. While Changelings have way smaller and weaker, insect-like wings than Pegasi, he was doing astonishingly well. This was the reason he enrolled. The thrill, the wind in his face, the pressure on his ears. It felt so liberating. That's the philosophy of the Pegasi! His mum had always told him so.

"There you go, that's what I wanted to see, good job, Wreck!" Spitfire praised him, patting him on the back.

"Thank you, Captain Spitfire, ma'am."

"Don’t thank me, thank your mother for not swallowing the pill. Dismissed!"

Rainbow Dash immediately flew over to his side, wrapping a hoof around him.

"Sweet Celestia, good show. I didn't realise Changelings could be such good flyers."

Train used this opportunity to hug her back, running his hooves up and down Dash's soft, snuggly fur.

"Everything I know about flying, I've been taught by my mother. She's to thank for me taking it this far and I couldn't be more thankful for that."

"Aww, that's sweet. Is it common amongst your folk to be good at flying?", Dash asked curiously.

"Oh, no, no. My mother is a Pegasus. My father is the Changeling.", he answered, taking a bite out of his banana and Nutella sandwich.

"Ah, I see.", she nodded, stretching her limbs.

"I'm sure you've got alot of stories to tell, growing up in a mixed-creature household. How'd a Changeling even get with a pony back then? Changelings didn't settle in Equestria until, like, 2015 or so."

Train nodded, appreciating her curiousity.

"I can tell you the story if you're interested. Because it was quite a long way for my father from the Hive to my birth."

Dash smiled politely, her interest piqued.

"Well, it all started in the Autumn of '89. My father is part of the many generations of foals of Queen Chrysalis...... I'm starting to wonder how she didn't wear out after all of those millennia.", he decided not to dwell on that thought and shook his head to get the image out of his head.

Dash started to become more interested as she connected the dots.

"So, basically, you're of royal descent?"

"Ehh.... I guess by blood I am, but Changeling Drones rarely have any high status. He's just one of 50.000."

Dash's eyes nearly popped out their sockets.

"You mean to tell me you've got 50.000 uncles and aunts?!"

Train chuckled, nodding quietly.

"Usually, there are about 50.000 changelings in the Hive at a time, yeah, though that number tends to vary, depending on how busy Chrysalis gets a year.

Well, anyways, to keep it short, let's just say my father isn't afraid to speak his mind. He's not good at holding back at all, not even infront of his own queen. The only problem is, Chrysalis isn't a monarch, she's a dictaror. He was gonna be killed by her right infront of all of his siblings to teach them a lesson in.... *Ahem* "Respect". Luckily, he was a pretty advanced Changeling already and had good reflexes. He simply transformed into a fly and fled the scene, never returning. He fled the country, deeming it unsafe to stay, not only because of Chrysalis, but also because Changelings, like you said, weren't as welcome in Equestria. He knew he wouldn't be able to hide his identity forever and he wasn't too hot on being labelled a terrorist. So, after travelling around alot, he migrated to Germaney. Long story short, he ended up meeting my mother, who saw his true self first. It's a very sweet story in and of itself, but let's not get into that today, before I end up talking my tongue off for six hours."

Rainbow Dash was amazed, not having expected anything quite so intense.

"Huh..... What a story. Who knew there was so much backstory to you? Tell your father that he can be proud of himself, yeah?"

Train giggled and smiled at Dash, perhaps the most genuine so far.

"I will, thank you. I bet they'd never believe I'm friends with an Element of Harmony....... We are friends, right?"

"Of course we are, you dork. I'd be happy to chill more often."

She stood up, turning her head just slightly so their eyes met again.

"So, same time, same place?"; she grinned at him, holding out her wing.

Train gladly shook her wing and nodded.

"Next time you're doing the talking."

"Alright, I can do that. One more question though. Are you.... Comfortable in your skin? Living as a Changeling, I mean, it doesn't sound like a walk in the park.

Train's gaze wandered off once again for a moment, this time into the sky above, before settling for an answer.

"Honestly? I'm not ashamed of who I am in the slightest. I mean, I can become anyone I want, it's surreal! I like being a Changeling and I'm proud to be able to now live here, where my father fled of many decades ago.

"I can respect that. You know, I haven't been the kindest to your kind in the past, but I've since learned how wrong that was. I really adore your confidence. We're no different in that regard."

"Well, what can I say? It's a changing life."

Author's Note

Longer Chapter, yay! Here's some lore for my AU. This chapter is dedicated to Bronycommander, who wished to know more about Train's views on his changeling heritage.