The next several weeks went well. Streax was becoming a bright student and was slowly finding her place among her classmates. However, after the first semester, Cheerilee had an announcement on the first day back.
"Attention, my little ponies," she said, "Today will be the start of an athletic department here in the school. A half hour will be set aside each day for exercising. There will be a coach for the earth ponies, one for the unicorns, and one for the pegasi."
"Oh, no," Fluttershy whispered, frightened. Streax was a bit uneasy, but she thought that it was worth a shot.
......................
"Attention, everypony!" The pegasus coach said, "My name is Pulsewing, and I'm going to be your coach for the rest of the year." She was a white pegasus with a gold mane and tail and green eyes. Streax couldn't help but see her in royal guard armor.
"Now, I would like to see what you all can do. Give me one lap flying around the school. Go!" As the fillies and colts took off, Pulsewing stopped Fluttershy.
"I would like you to do some special stretches. Your mother told me about you having problems with your flight." Fluttershy gratefully nodded.
Streax was panting by the time she was done, but she made it back in a decent time.
'I just might like this,' she thought.
........................
As the weeks went by, though, the exercises began to grow harder and harder. It went into vigorous wing conditioning. Finally, Pulsewing talked about a very long set.
"You will do five laps around the school, take a ten second break, and repeat four more times."
Streax was already exhausted, but took off with all her might.
By her second round, Streax was not doing well. She was falling very behind, and even losing count of her laps, causing her to do extras.
"You're doing well, Streax!" Pulsewing said, "Just three more!"
'Three more?' Streax thought.
She felt her chest begin to tighten and her breaths to shorten on her next round. By her third lap of the round, it felt like every wing beat was a desperate battle against the air.
'When is this going to be over?' She thought desperately, 'No,' she thought, 'I'm going to make it. I have to make it.'
These thoughts ran through her mind as she kept pressing on. Her breaths came in gasps. She was feeling more and more overwhelmed. Finally, the pressure in her chest lessened as a tear fell.
Pulsewing thought that she felt a raindrop hit her face. But when she looked up, she saw a gray filly crying.
"Streax!" She called. Streax flew down to her, fighting back tears.
"Are you okay," she asked. Streax shook her head, silently crying.
"What happened?" Pulsewing asked.
"I think I got overwhelmed," Streax whispered, "It happens sometimes. I put too much psychological pressure on myself."
Pulsewing thought for a second.
"Come sit down," she said, "And don't push yourself so hard next time."
I don't have asthma. The doctor said that I most likely have a mild anxiety attack when I get like this.
Interesting. Short chapter, yet rather informative at the same time.
This caught my interest, I'm autistic too. Though I'm 23, a might bit older than you or the filly in the story, I can remember what it was like when I was very young. The only difference is I never had issues zoning out so much, I've always been incredibly aware of everything happening around me to the extent that people are sometimes in disbelief of how much I pick up on; I am prone to hyperfocus sometimes, but only when I'm home just chilling out, like playing video games (or reading stories ). Otherwise, very hypervigilant (in the literal, psychological sense of it, have a good bit of anxiety thrown into the mix), definitely the jumpy type. I hear things that others generally can't, like Streax. I have a lot of SPD symptoms that I deal with. I have developmental coordination disorder, also called dyspraxia; I could only wish I'd had wings to use instead of walking when I was younger, haha.
I'm just glad Streax doesn't get bullied like I did. Talk about having no friends. It's all okay now, I have tons of friends, but it definitely sucked being bullied from 1st-8th grade, and being friendless until 7th.
Oh, as a side note, I did choir from 7th grade to my senior year of high school. :D I still have trouble letting people hear me sing from day to day, but I can perform on stage willingly now without.... completely... losing my shit.
6269447
Yeah. I also have ADHD, so that contributes to my lack of focus. I was fortunate enough to not have to deal with bullies, but I only recently started getting into the social mix, unlike Streax. She's currently 12, but the story is going to progress to my current age, 15, and build on my own life. But I take medicine for my focus, and that can cause me to get anxiety. I tend to get hyperfocus either with puzzles or music. It's cool that I can relate to someone like this. I understand the hardships of autism, and I'm sorry about the bullying. At least you pushed through. That's what matters, right?
6269790 Yeah. ^-^ You're lucky to have a diagnosis at your age, at the very least. I was always good at mimicry and didn't get the diagnosis until I was 20 (at which point "well, NOW everything makes sense"). I know lots of people who have ADHD, so I've seen what that's like for people. I thought that you were giving Streax ADHD symptoms, but I assumed it might just be a different presentation of SPD, since ADHD wasn't mentioned in the story.
I'm glad you enjoy being able to relate to someone. Feel free to talk to me through PM if you ever need someone to talk to.
6270112
I consider myself lucky to be diagnosed as well. I was diagnosed at age 9, and even before then, my mom knew that something was up. I spent years going to speech and occupational therapy. And I must admit that I've done quite a few things that I now regret. One of which was when I wouldn't give a girl her pajamas because I liked their texture. That took place before I was diagnosed, but still...
Please update this soon.
Also It would be awesome if you put in a pony version of Temple Grandin.
6519991
I've unfortunately hit writer's block on this. I have the next chapter about half-written and although I can't make any promises, I'll try to update it soon.