Chapter Five
This is Berk
Seven years later…
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third had been called Useless since he was four when he failed to pass the village weapons test. The idea was to figure out what type of weapon the youth could fight with the best. He had failed because he couldn't lift any of them. His father had been disappointed and decided that Snotlout, who passed, would be a better heir instead of Hiccup. So Hiccup was sent to work in the Forge with Gobber, who had become his father-figure over the past eleven years. Hiccup loved working in the Forge, but hated the fact that he was doing training to be a blacksmith because his father decided that he wasn't strong enough to protect the village. Hiccup would argue that Snotlout wasn't kind or smart enough to be a good leader. But Hiccup wasn't the bravest viking and he didn't want Snotlout and his gang to come after him more than they already did.
Ever since Snotlout became the Heir of Berk, he had a gang of followers around his age. His gang consisted of seven out of nine of the Berkian youth, including Snotlout himself. Embla (because she had a crush on Snotlout), Tyr (because he didn't want to be an outcast), the twins (because Snotlout let them cause chaos), Fishlegs (because he didn't want to be bullied), and Arild (because he wanted to be the future chief's right hand man). The only two teens that weren't in Snotlout's gang were Astrid and Hiccup. Hiccup wasn't in it because he was the ex-heir, Hiccup the Useless, and he was Snotlout's primary target. While Astrid wasn't in the gang, because she didn't want to be and because she hated Snotlout, mainly due to him constantly flirting with her.
Hiccup was alone in the Forge while Gobber went and grabbed some more weapons that needed to be sharpened. He had been working on a new metal formula for the past few weeks. Hiccup was hoping that it would be stronger yet lighter. He had gotten it lighter so far, but much less strong. However, he was hopeful that today would be the day that it worked. He heated the metal and pounded it over and over until he got the correct shape for a short-sword. Hiccup quickly cooled the sword down until it was cold to the touch. Then, he sharpened the sword and added the handle.
Just as Hiccup was adding the handle, Gobber came back into the Forge with a cart full of dull weapons. Hiccup put the new blade on the back wall which was full of new weapons that had to be tested. He then started grabbing the dull long-swords to sharpen them while Gobber began to work on the maces and the mallets. The two talked a little every once in a while, enjoying each other's presence. After an hour or two, all the weapons were sharpened and fixed so the two piled them all back into the cart and Gobber hauled them off to be returned to their owners. Hiccup was cleaning up when Stoick the Vast entered the Forge, eyes scanning the place.
"Um, hi chief. What can I do for you?" Hiccup said nervously, even though Stoick was his father, the two hadn't had that kind of relationship since Snotlout was named heir. So Hiccup slept in the backroom of the Forge almost every night and always referred to his father as either Stoick or the Chief.
"I'm looking for Gobber," the large man said in a neutral tone. Hiccup flinched slightly at his tone, but said:
"You just missed him. He's taking the weapon cart to return the weapons back to their owners as they're sharpened and fixed."
"How long until he gets back."
"Um… ten to twenty minutes." Hiccup paused before continuing. "If you need any weapon repairs or sharpening, you can just leave it here and I-"
"That's not why I'm here."
"Understood." Hiccup looked down at the ground, before turning around and continuing to clean the Forge. He put all the tools back in their places, secretly hoping that his father would ask him anything, talk to him about anything. Gobber, the Forge, the weather, the dragon raids, anything! But to Hiccup's disappointment, Gobber returned with an empty cart. He greeted the chief, before putting the cart alway and asking:
"So Stoick, what can I help you with?"
"I need to talk to you about the last search before the winter begins."
"Alright, but first," Gobber turned to Hiccup. "Hiccup, I believe you finished the new formula?"
"Yeah, I finished it earlier. Short-sword, just like you asked." Hiccup told his almost-father as he grabbed the sword off the wall. He brought it over to Gobber and handed it over to him so he could inspect it. He seemed pleased.
"It looks good, what was the formula this time?"
Hiccup happily listed the ingredients to Gobber, however, Stoick didn't look pleased, after hearing the list.
"You waste all those resources on a sword?!"
"Stoick," Gobber said, stepping in. "I asked him to make a sword. He usually just makes a small knife or dagger for the testing."
"Fine, just don't waste resources again on any of your destructive inventions." Stoick said, looking at Hiccup and giving him a death glare. Hiccup looked down and simply nodded. Stoick started walking away before yelling out: "Gobber, keep up!"
"Sorry lad, better to just get rid of it." Gobber said, before handing Hiccup back the sword and hobbling after the chief. Hiccup looked down at the sword in his hands, trying to hold back the tears forming in his eyes. He hadn't built anything big in years, anything that could cause any destruction. He only built small, little things every once in a while, but it still hurt so much to be reminded that no matter what he did his father would only see him as the Useless runt that couldn't be a leader.
Hiccup blinked back the tears and took the short-sword into the backroom that was his bedroom. He hid the sword under his little bed and slid into bed. He closed his eyes, still fighting back the tears, and soon fell asleep.
Embla - Name meaning 'Elm'. She is a year younger than the original six teens.
Tyr - Name meaning 'Balance'. He is the same age as the original six teens.
Arild - Name meaning 'Battle Commander'. He is almost five years older than the original six teens.
