Another chapter…But Ryan is dead! You know the routine, thanks for R&R!

Disclaimer: I do not own Xiaolin Showdown

Xiaolin Showdown: Legend of the Thunder Child III: Apocalypse Clone

65: The Loss of a Loved One

Meanwhile, back on Earth at the Xiaolin Temple…

06:18 till Earth impact…

"Guys…" sighed Jermaine as he looked at everyone in the cell, "Looks like this is it…"

"Damn…" sighed Kelko as she curled herself up, tucking her legs under her chin and wrapping her arms around her, "Never though I'd die here…"

"War's a terrible thing…" said Lizz as she looked up through the tiny window and into the sky, the Shadow Ecliptis was now getting bigger, but it was beginning to slow down. Hannah sighed as she let her head fall lazily from her neck; Colza said nothing as she rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. There was a sudden click of a door lock that made them all jump, they all looked up as the door came open and two clones came in. One of them grinned evilly as he approached them.

"We have obtained news that the final part of our master's plans is complete" said the clone "Now that we have no need for you, you're being released"

Everyone's face lit up slightly as they got to their feet.

"However…" said the other clone "We then received news that if any of you is set free, you will be a threat to the new order, so we have been commanded…to execute you!"

They all gasped as the clones chucked to themselves.

"Who do you want to kill first?" said one of the clones as he eyed each person individually. The other one grinned as he looked at Lizz; she backed to the wall as they both approached her.

"How about the ringleader?" said one of the clones "Her head would make a fine addition to the master's trophy room…"

Lizz began to panic as the clones grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her out the room.

"Lizz!" cried Hannah as she scrambled to her feet, only to be knocked back by one of the clones.

"Stay down and shut up, little girl" said the clone that knocked her down, "You're next…"

The clone stopped as he began the breath heavily, he swallowed hard as he began to sweat.

"Hey, you okay?" said the other clone. The first clone turned around, he seemed to wobble slightly as he looked back at him.

"I…don't know…" groaned the clone "I feel…"

He gasped in pain as he clutched his chest, his breathing was very hoarse as he stumbled out of the cell and fell against the wall.

"Are you having a heart attack?" said the second clone. The first clone said nothing as he began to thrash his body around wildly, he let out a pain filled scream before…BANG! The front of his chest swelled up. Lizz, Hannah, Kelko, Jermaine and Colza watched on with wide eyes and shocked faces as the clone fell to the floor with a thump.

"What the…GARK!" choked the second guard as he clutched his chest, the screeched in pain as the insides of his chest burst too.

"What is it?" said Lizz "Heart attacks?"

Wait…" said Colza as she slivered out of the cell, "Didn't Ryan say that the clones were Heylin Genome Splinter clones?"

"Yeah…I think so…" said Hannah as she got to her feet, "Why? What's going on?"

Colza said nothing as she turned around and ran out of the room.

"Colza!" called Jermaine "Where are you going? It's dangerous out there!"

"Guys!" called Colza from outside "Come and see this!"

The four of them cautiously walked out of the room and looked outside, they gasped at what they saw. Hundreds of clones were lying on the floor as more clones stumbled about, before falling to the ground dead.

"What's going on?" said Kelko.

"They must have destroyed their source of power…" said Colza as she smiled up at the Shadow Ecliptis, "I bet my Dojo helped…"

In the Core…

05:10 till Earth impact…

Kimiko ran through the ruins of Guardian Angel, leaping over large shards of metal as she got closer to the body on the floor. She dug her arms under it and rolled it over; she gasped and cupped her mouth at what she saw. Ryan was staring up at the roof with ghost white eyes, his body felt icy cold and he wasn't breathing.

"Ryan…" whimpered Kimiko as she lowered her head, "Why did you do it? Why did you have to die?"

She heard Raimundo, Omi and Clay stand behind her. Ryan suddenly gagged as he twitched his body, Kimiko squealed as she leapt back.

"Kim…ko…" choked Ryan as he squirmed on the floor and twitched like a worm, "Kim…ko…"

"Ryan?" gasped Kimiko "Are you still alive? Please still be alive!"

"Kim…ko…" choked Ryan as he clutched his chest, "Where…Where…Kim…"

I'm here…" cried Kimiko as she clutched his hand firmly, "I'm here and I'm never leaving you"

Ryan stopped twitching and looked up at her; his completely blank white eyes had no sign of life in them.

"Kim…ko…" choked Ryan "You…beauty…full…"

Her bottom lip began to quiver as he weakly raised a hand to her face; she shuddered as she felt his icy hands on her warm cheek.

"Ryan…" cried Kimiko "I love you…"

"Ry…love…Kim…too…" croaked Ryan as his hand fell from her face, "Kim…admits…Ry…the best…"

"Of course I admitted you were the best…" cried Kimiko as she held his hand; she slid her fingers gently through his palm and onto his wrists where she could feel his pulse getting weaker, "You always were…"

A small smile moved across Ryan's lips as he rested his head back.

"Good…bye…" croaked Ryan, his voice grew weaker as his heart began to fail.

"No…No!" cried Kimiko "No goodbye!"

"Good...bye...Kim...ko..." croaked Ryan, his voice grew even softer as his eyes began to water.

"NO!" screamed Kimiko as she began to pound his chest, trying to keep his heart working for as long as possible.

"Good…bye…Kim…ko…To…mi…ko…" said Ryan softly, "I…love…you…"

"RYAN!" screamed Kimiko as she shook his body vigorously, but no mater how much she shook him, it didn't stop him from dying.

"Kimiko" said Raimundo as he and Clay gripped her arms, stopping her from shaking Ryan, "He's dead, there was nothing you could have done…"

She screamed at the top of her voice as she turned around, hugged and buried her head into the nearest person, who was Clay. Omi sniffed as he stepped up to Ryan, he was still staring upwards. He sighed as he gently ran his hand across Ryan's face, closing his eyes.

"Rest in peace…" said Omi as he wiped his tears away, "Brave and noble warrior…"

"He gave his own life so everyone else would live…" said Raimundo "He always put his friends first…He is probably the most un-selfish person I have ever met…"

"Guys?" said Jack's voice over the walky-talky, "What's going on? I heard a big explosion?"

"Jack?" said Raimundo heavily, trying so hard not to cry, "Have you stopped the Shadow Ecliptis from falling?"

"We should be slowing down and retuning to our normal orbit soon" said Jack "We saved the world again…I have another chance to conquer it…"

"We saved the world again…" sighed Clay as he rubbed Kimiko's back, "But the price this time was too high…"

"So Ryan defeated Hannibal and Guardian Angel?" said a voice from the darkness. They all gasped as they looked towards the source of the voice; amongst the burning wreckage of Guardian Angel was a dark figure, whose silhouette was recognised by all the Xiaolin Dragons.

"We were wondering where you disappeared off to…Chase…" said Omi.

Chase chuckled as he walked through the burning ruins.

"Ryan had to be the strongest of any of my clones…" said Chase as he looked at Ryan's body, "He truly was my son…"

Kimiko looked at Chase as he walked through the fire; she moved away from Clay and walked towards him, looking at him with puppy dog eyes.

"Chase…" cried Kimiko "You created him…Please…Bring him back…"

Chase grinned as he looked down at her; the look on her face went worse as she knew her attempts of persuading her were futile.

"No…" said Chase as he turned his back on her.

"But he's your son…" begged Kimiko "Please…"

She began to breath heavily, but not with sadness, but with anger.

"Even if I could, why should I?" said Chase as he faced her, "I only would have killed him by now…"

"What!" gasped Raimundo. Chase said nothing as he pulled out his sword.

"You have completely thwarted my plans…" growled Chase as he pointed his sword at them, "For that…You will die!"

"But you wanted us to beat Hannibal" said Clay as they all stepped back.

"Yes…" said Chase "And with him out the way, nothing will get in my way…Well, not until you four are dead!"

He roared as he leapt into the air with the sword above his head, the four Dragons had no choice; they had to fight or die.

Ryan's dead, everyone else is going to fight Chase…R&R…