Hey everyone! Thanks for R&R! Here's the next chapter! Can Ryan resist the powers of darkness? Let's find out…

Disclaimer: I do not own Xiaolin Showdown

Xiaolin Showdown: The Legend of the Thunder Child

53: Love Conquers All

"It was a mistake to give you free will" said Chase as he held the Shadow of Fear in the air, "Soon, you will have no self conscience, and the monks will be dead!"

A purple haze began to flow from Shadow of Fear and wrap around Ryan.

"Shadow of Fear!" shouted Chase as the haze began to thicken around Ryan.

"Ahh!" cried Ryan as the mist began to squeeze the life out of him.

"Ryan!" cried Kimiko as she dashed toward him, only to be knocked back by the tides of purple haze.

"Kim…iko…" choked Ryan as he sunk under the haze.

"Let him go!" yelled Kimiko as she grabbed the Sword of the Tempest from the floor and pointed it at Chase.

"Very well" said Chase as he put the Shadow of Fear down. The purple haze began to thin out, releasing Ryan from its shadowy grasp. He hit the floor with a thump and lay there motionless.

"Ryan!" cried Kimiko as she dropped the sword and ran to Ryan's side, "Ryan! Speak to me!"

She rolled Ryan over on to his back and gasped as she saw what had happened to him. His body was a ghostly white colour and his eyes where lifeless. She ran her hand over his arm, it was icy cold.

"No…" said Kimiko as she moved her hand to his wrist to feel his pulse, but there was nothing, "No! Ryan! You just came back to me, you can't die!"

Chase burst into laughter as he watched Kimiko cry over Ryan's lifeless body.

"Now Ryan!" said Chase "Rise!"

Ryan's arm began to move, his hand reached up and grabbed Kimiko's arm, making her scream.

"Ahh!" cried Omi "Ryan's a zombie!"

Kimiko stumbled backwards as Ryan walked towards Kimiko, his dark lifeless eyes staring at her.

"Ryan!" cried Kimiko "What's going on?"

"No use talking to him" said Chase "As you can see, Ryan merely a lifeless puppet now, he is under my complete control!"

Ryan grabbed Kimiko and held her in front of him.

"Guys! Help!" cried Kimiko as she tried to struggle out of Ryan's grip. Raimundo, Clay and Omi charged at him, but Ryan just looked at them and pointed his hand at them. A gust of wind blasted from his hand and blew them all back. Ryan's head slowly turned back towards Kimiko and stared at her.

"Now Ryan!" called Chase "Kill her!"

"Psst!" whispered Ryan "This is for you, Kimiko…"

"Ryan?" gasped Kimiko "What the…"

Ryan hands went around the back of Kimiko's head, and with a smooth movement of his arms, she pulled her head close to his, and kissed her. Their lips touched, she was expecting cold lips, but they were warm. Just like the first time they kissed, Kimiko felt that everything around her was blocked out. She felt his hands move from her head, down around her back and pulled her close. Kimiko moved her hands up to his shoulder and then through his hair. They broke away, still holding each other. She smiled as she saw the colour return to Ryan's skin and his eyes returned to normal, not evil Ryan Young, not puppet Ryan, just Ryan.

"Kimiko…" said Ryan "I love you…"

"I love you too…" cried Kimiko as she snuggled into his arms, tears of happiness blinding her.

"So…" said Chase in a dark voice, "You're immune to my mind control…"

Ryan moved Kimiko behind him and moved towards Chase.

"You have no control over me Chase!" said Ryan. Chase looked at Ryan as he stood there in the centre of the room, staring at him eye to eye. An evil grin began to grow across his face.

"He He He…" laughed Chase "So you really have become strong…Excellent, just as I planned…"

"You're a right killjoy!" yelled Ryan "Just accept defeat!"

Ryan picked up his sword and swung his hand around, summoning a gust of wind that lifted him off the ground and sent him flying towards Chase, his sword held out like a dart. Chase didn't move an inch as Ryan shot right at him. Kimiko, Raimundo, Clay and Omi gasped as the sword slid into Chase's chest, piercing his body.

"Whoa…" gasped Ryan "Didn't expect to hit him…"

"Hmm…" sighed Chase as he looked at the hole in his chest, "So be it, Ryan…So be it…"

Chase's body began to lose its colour. It turned into a dark grey colour, as if he was turning into a statue. He then crumbled away into dust. The room went quiet as the monks looked at Ryan and the pile of dust that was Chase Young.

"Did he do it?" said Raimundo "Is Chase finally…dead?"

"Looks like it partner…" said Clay.

Ryan turned towards the others; his face was filled with as much confusion and surprise as the others. But seeing Kimiko made him smile, and he broke out into a wild cheer.

"Oh yeah!" cheered Ryan "I did it! I did it!"

"Way to go, Partner!" cheered Clay as he patted Ryan on the back, nearly knocking him down, "You whooped his butt!"

"Even though you weren't even a Wudai Warrior…" said Omi as he walked to Ryan, making the others looked at him, "You have shown me that true skill doesn't come from your rank, it comes from within"

"Really Omi?" said Ryan as he patted Omi's head.

"Yes!" said Omi "And I know that is true because I am a great Xiaolin Warrior and I have discovered my inner strength!"

Clay, Raimundo and Ryan groaned as Omi went on with how he is better than everyone.

"Will he ever learn?" groaned Ryan as he turned towards Clay and Raimundo.

"Well you know what they say…" sighed Clay "You can't teach an old dog new tricks"

"You got that right" chucked Raimundo. Ryan and Raimundo's eyes locked again as they looked at each other. Raimundo sighed as he looked down at the floor.

"Ryan…I sorry for being…You know…jealous of you and Kimiko" said Raimundo. Ryan smiled as he looked at him.

"Ah, No worries Rai" said Ryan "I would of felt the same if she hooked up with you…"

Raimundo smiled as he looked up at him, Ryan raised his hand and Raimundo hi-fived it.

"You two are made for each other, you know" said Raimundo as he and Clay looked up at her and noticed she was looking at them. They both moved backwards from Ryan.

"Hey, what's up?" said Ryan as he looked at Raimundo; who nodded his head in the direction of Kimiko. Ryan turned around and saw she was gazing at him.

"Ryan…" said Kimiko as she walked towards him, "You did it"

Her arms went around Ryan, hugged him.

"Well…" said Ryan as he blushed slightly, "I do my best"

Kimiko looked up at Ryan, giving him a seductive smile.

"Ryan…" said Kimiko softly as her hands moved up around the back of his neck, "I got something for you…"

"Hell yeah…" muttered Ryan to himself as there heads moved close together. But before their lips touched, Ryan felt her hand move sharply across his face.

"Ow!" cried Ryan as he leapt back, rubbing his face. He looked up and saw that Kimiko was glaring at him.

"Kimiko! What was that for?" complained Ryan.

"That was for leaving me the night I got kidnapped!" growled Kimiko. Ryan turned away and grumbled to himself as he rubbed his cheek.

"That's going to leave a mark…" grumbled Ryan. He turned back to Kimiko and was about to say something when Kimiko grabbed Ryan by the collar.

"Aww man!" groaned Ryan as he almost fell over, "What did I do now?"

Kimiko said nothing; she tugged at his collar sharply and pulled him into a deep passionate kiss. She broke out of the kiss and smiled as she saw Ryan's shocked face.

"And that was for coming to rescue me…And for coming back to me"

Ryan said nothing; he just smiled as he pulled Kimiko into his arms again.

"Aww…" said Clay "You two make the cutest couple…"

Ryan smiled as he looked up at them.

"Cheers Clay" said Ryan "You too guys, thanks for getting me back from Chase"

"Ah, don't get all sloppy on us" said Raimundo "Just do my chores for a week"

Ryan sighed as he rolled his eyes; Raimundo chuckled as Ryan released Kimiko from his arms.

"Let's just go home now" said Ryan. They all nodded in agreement as they headed towards the exit. They were just about to leave the room, when an evil laugh echoed through the room, making everyone jump.

"What the hell was that?" gasped Kimiko as looked around the room.

"That voice…" said Omi "It can't be…"

"No! Damn you!" yelled Ryan "Why won't you die, Chase!"

R&R everyone! I'm using the weekend to do more to my next story, see you on Monday!