Hiccup and his Aunt Gothi entered the room after Fishlegs. There, at the table, sat Merida and her father.

"Mr. Dunbroch, Miss, Dunbroch, if you don't mind being joined by our good friends, we shall begin shortly," stated MacIntosh as he showed Gothi to a seat. "We will be joined by two others in due time, but before they arrive, let me explain some of this. I understand there is a moment of your past you would like to forget, Mr. Dunbroch, but I must ask you to retell that dark moment to all once we are all present. Would you be able to do it?"

Fergus nodded, "Yes, if it will help put an end to all of this, yes."

"Thank you. Mr. Haddock, Mr. Ingerman, when I give you the word, I want you to restain the criminal. Be ready to move quickly, this one's a sly one." Hiccup and Fishlegs nodded, Hiccup knowing far too well the character of the criminal. "Good, thank you. He should be arriving shortly, if you will please stand by the door." Hiccup and Fishlegs each took a side of the door while MacIntosh threw a cloth over a strong box sitting in the middle of the table. Every few seconds he'd glance out the window, until he came back from his watch with an announcement. "Here he comes, be ready. Remember, Mr. Haddock, Mr. Ingerman, when I give the word, pounce." The two nodded, and in a few seconds, the door squeaked open and in walked Viggo, clearly taken back by the crowd.

"Well, what a surprise to see so many . . . old friends. What's the occasion? MacIntosh, why aren't you at your desk? Well, go on," waved Viggo.

"I have sat at my desk long enough, far too long, if you ask me, while the serpent slithered around right under my very nose. This serpent, this unholy demon is . . . Grimborn!" shouted MacIntosh, waving an accusing finger at Viggo.

"Oh, really? Now what would make you say that, and after everything I had done for your family?"

MacIntosh sniffed before turning to Fergus, "Mr. Dunbroch, could you enlighten everyone about that incident you told me in secret, pertaining to the Dragoneye Opals?"

Fergus heaved a tired sigh as he rose, "The Dragoneye Opals were entrusted to me by a client, a Mr. Alvin Terrebonne, to sell in London. In London I . . . I lost them."

"No, Mr. Dunbroch, you were drunk, and you either misplaced them, or they were stolen," stated Viggo.

MacIntosh glanced at Viggo, "Present company should do well to retain that word." Viggo stood up, and the two began to circle around the table. Hiccup was reminded starkly of two creatures, readying for battle.

"Instead of going to my client with the facts, like I should have, I tried to cover up the loss, and borrowed the money to pay him. But the interest was so high that I was soon mired in debt." He paused, telling this was not easy.

"Father, please sit," suggested Merida quietly. Fergus nodded and sat before continuing.

"I was forced to borrow money from my own clerk, Viggo Grimborn, to keep the affair a secret. I've been in his power ever since."

"Now, if present company can think of a different scenario concerning Mr. Dunbroch's misfortunes. The jewels were stolen, by the insufferable worm, the poisonous purger, Grimborn!"

Viggo scoffed, "You're just like your words, full of air, empty words. Where's your proof?"

MacIntosh scoffed in turn, "The low-down, no good, dirty cheater, the horrendous liar, the devilish hypocrite, Grimborn, asks for proof! Well, here is your proof!" With that, MacIntosh took off the cloth, revealing the strong box.

Viggo turned pale, "That's my strong box! How dare you touch it!" The door burst open, and in rushed another man.

"Don't fight it, Viggo, it's useless! It's best you came clean!"

"Shut up, Ryker!"

"Collar him!" At MacIntosh's shout, Fishlegs and Hiccup pounced Viggo, pinning his arms behind him. MacIntosh strode forward and fished out a key from his pocket.

"Don't you dare! I'll kill you, MacIntosh!" MacIntosh ignored the angry cries as he unlocked the strongbox and fiddled through the papers before pulling out what he was looking for.

Fergus stood up and gasped, "The Dragoneye Opals!" Everyone glanced at Viggo.

"How'd you know those were there, MacIntosh?" MacIntosh glanced at Ryker.

"You betrayed me!"

Ryker shook his head, "Never, I'd die first. I only took them out to look at them, for a moment."

MacIntosh nodded, "It was a moment, but I was there secretly, and a moment was all it took to prove Viggo's guilt. Now, if you two would hold him for a moment more, I shall let the authorities in." MacIntosh was only gone a few moments before returning with a few cops who promptly arrested him, MacIntosh having explained everything to them. A few minutes later, another man walked in.

"Mr. Terrebonne!" exclaimed Fergus.

"Hello Dunbroch, sorry to have heard that such misfortunes have been plaguing your mind. You should have come to me, I knew you wouldn't steal from me!"

"Not I, but my own clerk, whom I thought I could trust."

Alvin patted his shoulder, "He seems to have fooled us all."

"Except young Haddock," prompted MacIntosh.

"How so?" asked Alvin as everyone glanced at Hiccup.

"It was by his words that lead me to suspect Grimborn of other crimes before I stumbled upon this. He told me that Grimborn couldn't be trusted. And like many others, I didn't believe him at first, Grimborn had, in fact, taken care of my family's debt."

"As for my part, sir, I have known him for many years, and to be honest, I trust Miss Dunbroch's word over his any day," answered Hiccup. Everyone turned to Merida.

"I confided in Mr. Haddock that many people, my father included, feared Mr. Grimborn. Mr. Haddock has been kind for ever since, he has kept an eye on Mr. Grimborn whenever the two were in the same room."

Fergus scoffed, "More like keep an eye on you so you wouldn't do anything drastic."

"Father!" The others chuckled, she would have definitely done something.

"Well, after all's said and done, there is still the matter of the Dragoneye Opals. Come, Dunbroch, let's go set up a date to sell them now before I forget."

Fergus smiled, "Thank you, sir, you are too kind." The two left the room, and Merida and Hiccup stepped closer as the others went through the papers in the strongbox.

"Why, here's every penny he embezzled, he hoarded it all!" exclaimed Fishlegs.

"Thank you, Hiccup, for being here and supporting my father and Mr. MacIntosh through all of this," began Merida.

"But of course! Both are old friends, yourself included. I couldn't leave you to the wolves! I hated knowing that you were simply in the same house as that scoundrel! He has not harmed you in any way?"

She shook her head, "I think he felt certain that father and I would agree to the marriage to get out of debt, and I would have fought him every step of the way, but, when Mr. MacIntosh informed us he had a better alternative to the matter, we jumped on it. Oh, you have no idea how relieved I am with how it all turned out! Now I don't have to worry about marrying anybody any time soon!"

Hiccup chuckled, "You still refuse to marry?"

Merida crossed her arms, "Well, of course! There's no one I'm particularly interested in courting."

"Even with so many suitors?"

Merida scoffed, "Those boys? I'm looking for someone specific, more of a man, for one thing."

"Anyone in mind?"

"One, but he's busy with other things, it seems."

Hiccup smiled softly, "Well, I'm glad you've found someone. I'm sure you two will be happy." He brought her hand to his lips before joining Aunt Gothi in preparing to leave. He turned and waved to her before leaving, unsure of what he was feeling. He had to leave and think it over, why was he so upset that she had found someone?

Merida smiled sadly as she watched him leave, "I hope so too."