//------------------------------//
// Workouts  
// Story: Finding a Voice 
// by AmpUpHeart 
//------------------------------//

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."