Alicia's eyes narrowed as she wandered down the dark halls of Adlehyde castle, heading toward the "dungeon". She had heard of Boomerang's condemning from Elmina and had decided to take matters into her own hands. There was only one soldier guarding the dungeon which made Alicia's job all the more easier.

She walked up to the soldier and spoke, "Good evening."

The soldier smiled and bowed slightly, forgetting that Alicia could not see him. He then said to her, "Good evening, Miss Alicia. His eyes narrowed in confusion and suspision as he conveyed, "Um...If you don't mind my asking, Miss Alicia; how did you get here all the way from your room without your walking staff?"

Underneath her sunglasses, Alicia's eyes locked with the soldier's. She spoke, her voice showing no emotion, "Let me inside Boomerang's cell." The soldier, acting as if he was hypnotized, did as he was told. Alicia continued, "You let no one in. You did not see me. You fell asleep early tonight. Repeat."

"I let no one in...I did not see anyone...I fell asleep on watch..." the soldier repeated in a monotonous voice. Alicia grinned and entered Boomerang's cell.

Boomerang was asleep in a corner, the wooden neck brace still around his neck. "Boomerang!" Alicia snapped, instantly awakening the demon.

"Huh?" he groaned, staring at the girl, "Who're you?"

"My name's Alicia," she replied.

"Oh, yeah...Zed was talking about you earlier today...What do you want?"

Alicia held out her hand. "Come with me if you wish your freedom."

"WHAT?!" Boomerang demanded, leaping to his feet.

"I'm offering you a chance to escape this place. Are you going to accept it or not?" Alicia asked, her expression not changing.

Boomerang sighed and sat down again. "No...I guess I'm supposed to die...I don't care which way I go this time. So long as I escape this world of pain and betrayal."

Alicia withdrew her hand and grinned. She then asked, "If you won't escape, I can teach you a few tricks that might save your life tomorrow."

The demon looked up at her, his eyes narrowing under his visor. "I'm listening..."

Alicia smiled and sat down beside him. "Zed is looking for proof that you didn't kill those soldiers even as we speak. I know for a fact that he will have the proof tomorrow afternoon, but he will be too late. All you have to do is stall the soldiers and the executioner for at least five minutes! I can teach you some tricks that will give him time to get the proof to Johan and Cecilia."

Boomerang turned to her, now focusing his full attention to her words. "What sort of tricks, and how long will it take for me to learn them? Surely not before sunrise..."

Alicia looked out of the barred window and to the bright, full moon. He was right. Unless... "Time freeze!!" she cried. A crystal-blue glow surrounded the room, the hall outside the cell and seemingly the entire countryside just before vanishing as quickly as it came.

Alicia grinned mischievously and looked at Boomerang who was starting to back away from her. "Now we've got all the time in the world!" she stated.

"W-What are you?" Boomerang stuttered.

Alicia's grin only became wider as she answered, "You will know in due time. But I ask you only one thing."

"I knew there was a catch..." Boomerang groaned jokingly.

Alicia laughed, "No, no! All I ask is that you don't tell anyone where you learned what I'm about to teach you. Please, don't tell them it was me. Also, don't tell anyone that you saw me! I have a secret that I have to keep...at least...for a little while longer..."

Boomerang nodded. "You can count on me. Somehow, I'm good at keeping secrets." Alicia smiled and Boomerang's teachings began.

Zed yawned and looked up at the morning sun. His time was running out. He had spent most of the night walking around the castle, looking for any sign that might indicate that someone else had killed the soldiers. "Argh! Where else could I go?!" he growled, rubbing his head which was throbbing. He then snapped his fingers and grinned, remembering what Boomerang had said about dropping off the Sabre Fang at the weapons shop. Zed took off running toward the weapons shop as the day grew nearer and nearer to afternoon.

"What the?!?!" Cecilia gasped as she gazed upon the device before her. It was a table-like contraption that was painted blood red and was shaped like a "T" with a loop over the crossbar where the "victim's" head went. It had twin shackles on the crossbar that would pin someone's arms to the table. Not far away from the table was a small tray on which sat five crude weapons. Weapons for an execution.

The one that caught Cecilia's attention was a small, scythe- like weapon which appeared to be used for slitting someone's throat, or something worse.

Cecilia almost screamed at Johan, "How come I never knew of this room?! How come I never knew of this thing?!?!"

Johan replied calmly, "The king thought you were too young to learn of this place."

The two of them, Jack, and Elmina were in a part of Adlehyde castle that very few people had seen or heard of before. Elmina picked up one of the execution weapons, the scythe-like one, and felt its blade. It was razor-sharp and could probably cut through stone. She finally got up enough courage to ask, "Wh- What's this for?"

Johan merely made a small motion across his forehead. Elmina went pale, dropping the weapon. "Oh, god...I'm...I'm gonna be sick..." she muttered. Jack leapt forward and helped her out of the room.

Cecilia was speechless as she followed them out of the room. She spoke to Jack and Elmina, her voice merely a whisper, "I...I always thought Adlehyde was so peaceful...Now I realize how cruel it is....." To comfort them, Jack wrapped an arm around both of the girls' shoulders.

Elmina asked, "Why did it have to be this way? We just made an alliance with him! And now he's got to die a horrible death...Why?"

"I....don't know..." was all Jack could say.

Boomerang awoke with a start as the doors to his cell opened. His neck was killing him, being sore from the wooden slab around his neck. The girl, Alicia, had "trained" him for what seemed like days, yet not one second had passed during the night. What had she done to force time to freeze? How could she have even accomplished such a feat?! He knew then that Alicia was no ordinary human. She had a special power, but he could not worry about that now.

"Alright, pal. Let's go," the guard spoke. Boomerang stood up and looked out the barred window. It was past noon, that much he knew. However, Boomerang also knew that time was running out. His execution was to be held at three o'clock, and right then, it had to be at least 2:15, maybe later.

As the guards lead the demon to the execution room, all Boomerang could think was, C'mon, Runt. Now's not the time to be screwing up...

"I don't want to remember it, man!" Brian whined.

"C'mon, PLEASE!!" Zed begged, "What did he look like?!"

Brian thought for a moment before answering, "Exactly like your friend, except he was wearing different colored armor and his eyes were glowing."

"His armor was a different color?" Zed asked.

Brian nodded. "Silver, red, and gold."

Zed thanked the soldier and left the inn in which the two had been in. "Hmm...the same description that the weapons shop guy gave me..." His eyes widened and he slapped his forehead. "HOLY SHIT!! THE CLONES!!!!"

"Oh, you're pathetic..." Dazer groaned as Chakrum threw up for a third time. "C'mon! You did great killing those humans!! That's not something to be sick about!!" Chakrum just glared at him and resumed his queasiness.

Zeikfried groaned and said to Mother, "You've gotta stop coming up with bums...yer last one was the worst of the original five."

Mother retorted, "Zed wasn't that bad. Sure, he screwed up a lot, but still..."

"He was a total waste of time," Zeikfried stated, "And now so is Chakrum. He can't even kill a few dozen humans without getting sick!" Chakrum just groaned and staggered out of the room, clutching his upset stomach.

Boomerang could not help but gasp when he saw the devices that sat before him. He had seen these contraptions before. The table and weapons had been a favorite execution tool of the Demon Race. He looked at each of the weapons, identifying them. The scythe-like weapon was used to slice open the victim's forehead. Another weapon which looked like a small, hand-held axe, was used for spliting open the victim's chest. A third was used right after the second for tearing out the victim's heart. The entire contraption could also be used as a torture device, but not even the strongest demon would be able to survive the process.

He knew not what the last two weapons were used to do, for neither he nor Zed had lasted past the third weapon. At each execution they had witnessed, they had both either fainted or puked their guts up after the third weapon was used. Of course Zeikfried and Mother had frowned on this, but they did not care at the time.

The soldiers undid the locks on the brace around Boomerang's neck. He gasped and rubbed his throbing neck, cracking it to get some feeling back into it. Boomerang then lay down on the table- like device and let the soldiers secure his hands with the shackles. The executioner entered the room. Naturally, he was dressed all in black.

Boomerang looked to his left. There stood Jack, Elmina, and Cecilia. Cecilia was petting Lucied who stood at her feet. Boomerang could hear Johan speak to them. He said, "Princess. Miss Elmina. You don't have to watch this if you don't want to..." The girls both shook their heads signaling that they wanted to witness the death of their short lived ally.

Boomerang could not help but grin under his visor as he looked back up to the ceiling of the room. He was still wearing his armor and visored helmet. Both his helmet and his armor were made out of a slightly thin metal which was why most attacks went right through his armor. He felt deep in his gut that he would pull through. He just had to concentrate.

Already he could see the scythe-like weapon rising over his forehead. It came down slowly as the executioner got good aim. Boomerang closed his eyes and concentrated, Alicia's words echoing throughout his mind. Alicia's voice spoke in his mind, "The whole world is driven by a will, blind and ruthless."

The executioner placed the scythe weapon lightly on Boomerang's helmet.

"In order to transcend the limitations of that world you must stop willing..." Alicia had said.

The executioner gathered his aim again.

"...stop desiring..."

Boomerang's eyes opened slowly and he looked back toward the three Dream Chasers who were present. Lucied was whimpering and tears were now streaming down both of the girls' faces. A strange feeling rose in Boomerang's gut. They...cared for him? They actually cared whether he lived or died? Feeling a strange lump in his throat, Boomerang looked back to the ceiling. "...stop hating."

Boomerang closed his eyes again as the executioner gathered his aim for a third and final time.

Alicia spoke in Boomerang's memories, "To conquer others is to have power. To conquer yourself is to know the way."

The executioner brought the scythe weapon high over his head and brought it down just as Boomerang's eyes snapped open. Suddenly, the four remaining weapons on the tray rose up and skyrocketed toward the executioner, embedding their blades in his back. The scythe weapon's blade stopped in midair, just inches from Boomerang's forehead.

Johan shrieked, "WHAT THE HELL?!"

"Oh, my god!!" Elmina cried. Cecilia just screamed. Jack's jaw dropped. Lucied let out a both overjoyed and surprised howl.

Boomerang looked at his left hand, a strange, unseen force opening the shackle. He looked at his right hand and the same was done. He climbed slowly and confidently off of the table as Johan commanded, "Stop him!!"

Boomerang took his fighting stance and ducked under one soldier's charge. Meanwhile, the executioner collapsed, dead, the weapons still embedded in his back. Boomerang backhanded one soldier and kicked another in the stomach. He did not want to kill them, just stall them as Alicia had instructed him to do.

A sphere of powdery-white energy formed in Boomerang's right hand which he threw at a pair of soldiers. It did not harm them, but it did knock them back to the wall. Boomerang threw another energy ball at some more guards, knocking them back, too. He looked over his shoulder and smiled. Jack, Elmina, and Cecilia were staring at him, dumbfounded. Lucied was barking loudly. Cecilia was actually laughing from joy. Joy?

Boomerang stood in the same spot for several minutes. Whenever the soldiers tried to detain him, he would either knock them unconscious or blast them across the room with an energy sphere.

"Holy shit...what happened here?!" came a voice from the front of the room. Boomerang whirled around, and laughed from relief. Zed ran into the room and kneeled beside Boomerang who had collapsed onto his knees. It had taken all of the visored demon's energy to form the white spheres that had knocked all of the soldiers and guards into next week.

"What are you doing here?!" Johan demanded as he awoke the guards.

Zed looked up at him and replied as he shoved Lucied out of his face who was attempting to lick the swordsman to death, "I'm here with Boomer's defense. It wasn't him."

Johan asked, "Who else could it have been? Who else looks like him?"

Zed looked at the three Dream Chasers present. "Chakrum...the clone..." Jack slapped his forehead. Elmina screamed in frustration. Cecilia nearly fainted. Lucied growled.

Jack growled, "Why didn't we think of that before?!?!"

Cecilia helped Boomerang to his feet and said, "I'm so sorry. Can you forgive us?"

Boomerang replied, wincing, "Just give me something for this headache and all charges will be dropped..." Cecilia let out a half-hearted laugh just before she burst into tears again. Then, almost without realizing what she was doing, the princess wrapped her arms around Boomerang and hugged him.

Boomerang's eyes widened. He had never witnessed such an action. Sure, he had seen humans do such things to each other, but never had this happened to him. He knew not what to think. Zed just laughed and winked at Jack and Elmina who had to contain their laughter. Lucied nuzzled his leg.

Jack spoke, "Uh...I suppose you're not gonna tell us where you learned that, are you?" Boomerang shook his head. Of course he would not. He had sworn to Alicia that he would not. "I didn't think so. Oh, well...at least everything's back to abnormal." The warriors and the sorceress could not help but laugh, all of them overjoyed and relieved that they had not lost one of their most powerful allies.