Berk, a small village on an island that is considered close to the heavens for the fact that it is always below freezing to death. Hiccup is now fifteen years old and is working his arms off at a forge. After his mother's death Hiccup's father Stoik had been more cruel towards him since then. Due to his ongoing job as the chief of the Hairy Hooligan tribes, he enlisted the help of his long time friend and blacksmith Gobber to take Hiccup in as his apprentice.
To Hiccup, Gobber was a friendly man who had been almost a better father than Stoik had been, due to the fact that Gobber always gave him his wisdom and hardly ever brought up the fact that he was small. Even though Hiccup was scrawny and at times clumsy, he would never look at Hiccup as a mistake, but rather tell him that everything was alright. To Gobber learning in the forge always involved mistakes, because that is how he became a blacksmith
Hiccup now sharpened swords for most of the people of berk, who's blades get duller and duller due to overuse. The people of Berk have had a small pest problem that keeps them always alert for anything. That small pest problem, however, is an entire infestation of dragons that would always come to the island and raid the village for food.
Now Hiccup was taking care of perfectly sharpening a broadsword that came in. diligently grinding the giant husk of metal against the grindstone, he hears Gobber approach him from behind.
"Hiccup" Gobber called as he approached him. Hiccup turned to Gobber to acknowledge him he stops the grindstone and with a lot of effort puts the sword down.
"oh, don't mind me Hiccup. Keep working on that sword" Gobber said with a wave of his arm.
With a nod, Hiccup picked up the broadsword and turned on the grindstone to continue to work diligently. Gobber then strolled to the front of the grindstone and began to speak his mind to Hiccup.
"Listen... Hiccup." he states as he sees hiccup nod at him, signifying that he is listening.
"when you started out. I know I was a wee bit ruff on you about everything I had you do." he says as Hiccup finally finishes with the broadsword and looks up at the old blacksmith.
"The first sword I had you forge was the hardest thing I had you do. The proportions were incredibly wrong and you ended up using too much metal. The top was heavier than the rest of it which made the axe less comfortable." he said as Hiccup gave him a very bored and annoyed expression. Gobber stilled himself and continued. "Look... what I am trying to say is that you got to remember, that anything that has to be perfect is done with a wee bit o' error at the beginning. Nothing is ever done perfectly Hiccup. It takes time, trials, and errors before ye get something right my boy" he said.
Hiccup looked at his trainer and smiled with a nod signifying that he understood the lesson that he had been trying to give him.
"Now run along home and get some rest Hiccup. You had a long day. Tomorrow I am giving you your first ever assignment" Gobber said.
Hiccup smiled and nodded before he took off his blacksmith's robes and put is on a hanger where Gobber had always told him to put it. Heading to the door he looked back at Gobber with a smile and nod combo signifying his gratitude before turning back around to open the door Gobber stops him with a hand to his shoulder.
Turning towards Gobber with a confused look he waits for a final message.
"Hiccup... be careful out there lad, anything can happen" he stated with a smile and a tone of worry. Smiling back Hiccup nodded before opening the door and closing it before heading off to his home.
