You Never Know When a Breakthrough is Gonna Happen

FZZZsssst. FZZsst. FZZZSSsssst. Amity sighed quietly as sweat dripped down from his brow. He'd grunt every time he'd attempt to focus, his horn going from dull blue to a deep cyan as his magic rose with intensity. Gritting his teeth, a soft aura formed around a small rock in front of him on the ground. It would start to wobble and shake, matching the intensity of the glow from Amity's horn. "GAH!" The red stallion's horn sparked out, leaving a few shallow scorch marks against Amity's forehead and singing off the ends of the front of his bangs. He blinked slowly, a grey fog filling his eyes as a result of the flash from sparking out. A sigh left his lips as his vision returned to him, the small rock no further than it had started. "Still no luck, Amity?" A familiar warm voice called out. Amity turned to see Freesia, watching from a little distance away with a worried smile. The light-purple mare trotted up as Amity nodded dejectedly. "Don't worry, lad. There's all sorts of late bloomers out there. Why, I remember bein' frustrated when I was the shortest filly in class. A wee lass! But when I finally got my big mare hoovies, you can bet that I was a stunner!" With her snout raised high with pride, she flashed him a brilliant smirk. "Freesia, you're, like, in your twenties." The red stallion-to-be stood up and brushed off his forelegs one at a time. "And you've told that story a buncha times." Amity sighed again with his head hung low. He trudged past her slowly before he felt a hoof on his shoulder, turning towards the concerned expression of his older friend. "I may be young, and that story quite old, but I'm tellin' it to you again so you can take from it what I been tryin' to tell you." She leaned in and kissed his forehead before ruffling up the colt's fuzzy and long charcoal black mane. "You'll feel down or inadequate or a failure when you, well, fail. But just know, you keep workin' for it, you'll get there. Guarantee it." She placed a hoof under his chin and lifted it up. "So keep your head held high, lad! Gotta look forward to the next moment of training! You never know when a breakthrough is gonna happen!" Amity's eyes were guided to the pure emerald eyes of Freesia. He couldn't help but blush a little before nodding and smiling wryly. "Yeah...You're right. I won't get anywhere if I'm not practicing, so I may as well be practicing." The young Amity raised his head up and grinned. "Just you watch! I'll make you proud!"