Midnight in the Dance Studio of Good and Evil
Started: March 17, 2000
Starring: Nephrite, Ami, and Jakurin

Nephrite stood in front of his fainting students. "Thats right girls, give your energy to me, you'll never leave this place alive." he said with a laugh as they each collasped, unmoving. He was enjoying his moment of triump when the phone rang. *Whoever dares call me this time of night, right when I'm collecting energy, is going to pay!* he thought.

"Um Mister Maxfield? I'm Ami, you gave me your card a while back. I was thinking of joining your dance academy. Do you think you have a spot for me?" Ami asked him.

Sanjouin smiled to himself. "Yes, yes of course, Ami I remember you know. Yes we still have a spot open, if you're willing to come down and audition." he said. *Perfect, another girl ready to throw herself to the forces of the Dark Kingdom!* he thought evilly.

"Alright then, when should I come down?" Ami asked him.

sajouin smiled. "Well, only my night class is opened. It starts around 10 pm. Can you make it then?" he asked.

"Yes I can, Thank you for the opertunity." Ami replied and then hung up the phone to get ready.

Nephrite smiled to himself. "Excellent." he muttered to himself. "Soon we shall either have a new recuit, or a vast energy supply for the Dark Kingdom." he then went to make preperations for his new *student* in the dance hall. He went to each mirror and touched it, causing a small symbol to appear and then fade. "Whomever looks into this mirror a duplicate will be made and then that youma will drain the energy dry until there is nothing more to give." he said with a laugh.

Ami arrived at the Dance Hall right on time. She looked down at her outfit. She had on a black leotard with black tights and her hair up in a bun on top of her head. She shuddered with fear. She really wanted to get into this dance studio and hoped she was good enough for it.

Nephrite heard a car door shut and looked out the window. There she stood. Her hair so neatly tied up and looking so professional. It would be a pity to kill the girl. Maybe there would be another way.

Ami stepped into the practice studio. It was so large and so beautiful. 15 Ami's looked around the room in awe. She was startled when Nephrite came up behind her. "Like it?" he asked softly.

Ami nodded. "Its wonderful. It's an honor just to dance in a studio like this." she muttered.

Nephrite nodded. "Yes it is. Now then..lets get started. You can warm up as much as you like and when you are ready we will begin." he said.

Ami nodded and went over to the corner. She caught herself many times looking over at Nephrite. His toned muscles and tight body were very nice to look at. But she had to consentrate on the task at hand. She had to dance like she never had before. She really wanted to get into this school. She warmed up for 15 minutes and then decided to go through just a few moves from her routine to make sure she was ready.

Nephrite watched the girl closely as she warmed up. He felt a strong earge to just kill her before things got too out of hand. That she was more dangerous than she seemed. He then shook the feeling off as paranoia and walked over. "Ready?" he asked.

Ami nodded and handed Nephrite a tape. She then took the center of the room and began to move with the music. she closed her eyes and letherself be taken to another world. *THis is all I want. To be floating and dancing on a cloud. I wish I could give up being a Senshi.* she thought. Then, as if a moment later had passed she was finished and the hall was silent again.

Nephrite watched the girl in awe. She was very talented. He started regretting once again his plan to take her energy. but this is what Queen Beryl wanted. Maybe he could make her weak enough and take her to the Dark Kingdom. He stood from his seat and started clapping. The sound echoed off the walls, filling the room with his clapping.

Ami's body was sweating, her face flushed as she stopped in her finishing pose. Her chest heaved in and out as a hundred different steps, a thousand different poses ran through her mind; moves that she could have should have, would have done. A certain number of movements, a pirouette that might have boosted her chances. She ran the back of her hand over her head and coughed once, heading towards her duffel bag which she left on the bleachers. Drawing out a towel, she mopped her face and the back of her neck, and gave Maxfield a tentative yet hopeful smile.

Nephrite walked forward. "Where did you learn to dance like that?" he asked. *She will be mine. She will belong to the Dark Kingdom.* he thought with a smile.

"Oh, um, just many years of practice," she said, trying to be modest. "I love to dance; its my passion. I could always excel in something else, I guess, but here..." she glanced around the arena designated for her dance audition. "This is where I like to be, where I want to be..." she said, her sentence ending in a soft whisper. The silence hung for a few moments, then Ami laughed. "Here I am, losing my senses, gomen!" she apologized, mopping her face again, then zipping up her bag. "I guess I'll get a callback, right?" she asked, slinging the bag over her shoulder.

Nephrite smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder. "No...I don't think a callback will be necessary. See I've already made my decission." he said in his deep voice. He gently stroked her hair back out of her face.

She involuntairly shivered as his hand brushed against her forehead, then flushed furiously as she turned her back to Mr. Stanton. "Honto(really)?" she stammered, uncomfortable. "Then I guess I shouldn't have tried out. Gomen nasai for keeping you up..." she said, bowing quickly to him and gathering her things in one swoop. She began to walk quickly across the auditorium, when she nticed something she hadn't before... a girl. Stretched out, with a look of pain on her face. She gasped, as she realized the reason for the dim lights; many girls ere also in weird positions. ~Dark Kingdom!?~ her mind threw at her, as she whispered to herself, "Ne, Ami, ochitsuite([calm down])..."

A bright flash of alburn light signalled Nephrite's new appearence in his Dark General unifrom. "No need to hurry off Ami. I'd actually like for you to stay and dance." he said and snapped his fingers. The girls lept out of the mirrors and onto the dance floor. "Don't be freightened Ami...You won't feel a thing. You're going to be a part of a great plan...a very great plan." he said soothingly.

"Nanda kore([roughly]what this)?!" exclaimed Ami, as Maxfield Stanton suddenly turned into the evil she had been fighting along; a general of the Dark Kingdom. "What have you done to these poor girls?!" she demanded, looking at each one of them in turn, and brandishing her bag in front of her torso, ready to swing at a moment's notice.

Nephrite smiled. "I gave them what they wanted. The chance to dance for eternity. But this is not your fate. I would never do this to someone as talented as you." he said.

"Eternity?! You turned them into mindless zombies! They have no creativity, no inspiration, no soul left in them! It's what makes up the heart of dancing!" retorted Ami, holding a hand behind her back.

Nephrite continued to smile. "Don't be afraid Ami. You're fate is much better than theirs. Yours is to sit by my side in the Dark Kingdom." he said, holding up his hand and allowing his symbol to flash. It connected with Ami's forehead.

Ami was frozen in place, her eyes wide, then beginning to close as she felt a calmness trying to enter her, a peace she had never known, even before her life as a senshi--!! Shaking her head quickly, she threw her head back and her wand in the air. "Firestone Shadow Crystal! Make-UP!!" In a few seconds, there stood a very tensed and drained Sailor Firestarter. All the energy she had put into her dancing; her physical prowness was down. Her mind was also reeling -- her only chance to get out and do what she loved on a professional level, and it was all a sham runned by the evil that had interrupted her life long ago. "You extinquished the flame of passion that kept these girls on their toes! I, Sailor Firstarter, will defeat you!"

Nephrite stood back for a moment. "A Senshi!" he cried surprised. "Well, you are a good prize indeed." he said and snapped his fingers. instantly all his youma started rushing towards sailor Firestarter. He would let them wear her down, then he would finish the process of turning her into a Dark Kingdom Lacky himself.

With a lurch forward, Firestarter slammed three girls in the head with her duffel bag, then shot her hands up. "SOLAR FLARE!!" she screamed, sending out a bright blast. Some girls cried out as the light caught them off guard. Firestarter then formed her whip, and rushed at Nephrite.

Nephrite smiled at Firestarter as she rushed towards him. He put his hand calmly in front of him and formed an invisible barrier between himself and the Senshi. *So weak, and beautiful.* he thought.

At the contact, Firestarter screamed as she was electrocuted, then thrown back a few steps. She held her chest as her breath came out in short gasps. Cracking the whip, she yelled, "Inferno Wave(msp)!!" sending a barrage at Nephrite.

Neprhite kept the shield up and smiled. "Please put that thing away before you hurt yourself. I would hate to have to heal you with my dark energy and make you even more my slave." he said laughing.

The wave was just snuffed out as though a match. Her hand was still tainted a bit with searing heat, and she pulled her whip back. As Firestarter did, however, it accidently lashed a girl across the chest who was about to jump onto her back. She cried out in pain, and dropped to her knees. Firestarter whirled, her own pain at striking down an innocent apparent on her face... but wait... The girl shook her head twice, and then blinked. "Where am I? What happened?!" ~The stinging heat from my whip must bring them back to their senses!~ thought Firestarter, as she snapped it back and rolled it around her body. "Flee!" she shouted, and the girl bolted, leaving her things behind. Firestarter shot a look back at the still laughing Nephrite. If his shield WAS inpenetrable, then she could at least save the girls.

Nephrite could care less about his fleeing beauties. He could always get more. But a Senshi was a once in a lifetime accomplishment..and he wanted her badly. he took a few steps forward, continuing to keep the shield in front of him.

Keeping a distance between herself and Nephrite, Firestarter singed girl after girl after girl, sending them out scared and confused until they were left all alone. Sweating, Firestarter wished to all the fates that some other senshi would catch this activity... that someone might come to her rescue....

Nephrite dropped his shield in order to get closer to Firestarter. "Now now...you've freed all my pets. How naughty of you." he said with a smile as he walked closer. "There's no escape for you, just admit it."

Ami turned and looked towards the door, *He may be right, there may be no escape for me, but atleast I saved those girls, so they can keep on dancing.* She took a step back and looked for another way out. *Looks like there is no other way out, but to fight. Where are the others?!* Her whip materialized in her hand and she faced Nephrite.

Meanwhile, on the humble side of the dance studio, someone was sleeping. She had just came back to Japan; more specifically, the Tokyo/Juuban District. It had been one heck of a day, and one heck of a haul. A Canon Rebel X hung around her neck, and four wallets loaded with wads of cash. The girl, however, did not sleep peacefully. Running away from her American family, she knew she was all alone, and although she had some things going for her (her thievery skills, and purchasing a beat-up ATV Rider with some of the cash), she forgot the shelter bit. And so, she was sleeping fitfully, back against the wall, near the door frames for warmth with her ATV parked and near a bush. Suddenly, she was jolted awake by a slam to her left side. "Itai!!" she cried as girls poured out of the dance studio. Some were crying, others stumbled as they all began to run away in every direction towards cars and mini-vans. "Nanda kore?!" said the girl, standing up and rubbing her arm. "I'm trying to sleep, and the baka ballerinas run me over! What the heck has them so scared?" she grumped, opening the door and walking inside the studio. Making her way to the practice room, she peeked into the door and gasped. "*What in 'blazes?!*" she whispered in English, her mouth hung open.

Nephrite opened his hands in front of Ami and sent balls of dark energy towards her. "You can't keep me away forever. You will fall into my hands and you will dance for me!" he said laughing.

Ami deflected Nephrite's attacks using her whipped, she was able to defend herself for a short time until one caught her in the chest and sent her flying backwards into a mirror. As she collided she cracked the mirror and fell the floor limp. She moaned softly as she struggled to stand and defend. As she struggled to her feet she picked up her whip and stood facing Nephrite her knees wobbled slightly beneath as she stared him down.

Nephrite stopped and smiled. "Pathetic!" he said. He held out his hand and levitated the girl off the floor. "You will make a nice addition to my collection." he muttered.

"*Holy crap*! It's a Satanic cult or something!! I didn't know they exisited in Japan!" Jakurin whispered to herself, leaning closer on the door. At that moment, she fell through like a log, the door swinging inward. With the cry of "Itai!!" loudly escaping her lips, she pulled herself to her knees and rubbed her chin that hurt like hell.

Ami moaned as she felt herself lift on the ground, *I can't believe this is happening to me?* She turned her head and stared at Nephrite, "What do you want with me?"

Nephrite smiled and laughed. "I want the destruction of the Senshi. But, I like you. You're cute and have a very strong spirit. I'd love to break that spirit into nothing. And if you are a prisoner of the Dark Kingdom, then you won't be able to fight with your friends." he said laughing.

"Prisoner??" repeated Jakurin to herself, raising to a kneeled position. "I need to call the police on this magic nut-ball show!... nah, my family's probably looking for me, too. The police are out of the question," she said lowly, standing up to her full height. Her height! "I got it," she said to herself eagerly as she crouched down again, tugging off a black leathered platform boot. The heel block was dense, made of oak wood and painted black with a shiny glaze. "This is insane, Kitsune!" she chided herself. "However, it can't do much worse to the poor girl." With that, she reared back and hefted her boot at the man's head.

Ami looked at her attacker, *I may be down but this isn't over yet..* She raised her whip, "Inferno Wave!" She snapped her whip against the ground releasing a wave of fire at her attacker. It may have been a last ditch effort but it was all she had left.

The boot made contact as it sailed through the ribbon of flame, bursting into a burning fireball. "What the hell?!" shouted Nephrite, barely ducking out of the way in time. The boot landed in a set of bleachers, and the whole set of seats began to go up in flames as the fire ate at the old wood and varnish. Jakurin Kitsune groaned with a hand over her face. That's NOT what she had in mind. And how the heck did that girl do that trick without a flame thrower?! With Nephrite's concentration gone, the shield holding Sailor FireStarter in place dropped as the fire quickly spread. The star king growled at the misfortune, turning eyes of hate upon the senshi.

Ami moaned as she hit the floor with a thud. She was so weak she could barely move as she crawled away from the tyrant. She looked and saw that her attack had missed and that the bleachers had turned into a wall of fire.

Nephrite pulled his last bit of energy around him to teleport out, his hands reached for the senshi laying in front of him. If he grabbed her, she would teleport with him, and be his for life.

The flames licked higher and higher as the strong arms of Nephrite wrapped around the still torso of Sailor FireStarter. The heat was beginning to be unbearable as Nephrite caught her, sweating soaking through the both of them. And in an amber flash of light, both were gone.

Coughing a bit herself as she tore out of the building, Jakurin tried to wipe a soot stain off of her cheek as the local police and fire department sirens were heard in the distance. "That girl and guy... they just..." she spluttered to herself, leaping onto her ATV, jostling the keys in shock and trying to jam them into the ignition. Finally getting it up and running, she wailed the machine in reverse and tore away from the scene.

Ami awoke to a dull pain in the back of her head, blinking her eyes. Thankfully, it wasn't too light so her eyes could adjust rather quickly. She blinked. Instead of being in a hospital like she had thought, she was on a stone table! Chained!!

"Comfortable?" came the sultry voice as Nephrite came into her view. He had her a red bondage suit and was dressing her wounds.

Ami found that she couldn't even speak, she had been lacerated and burnt so bad. All she could do was fix him with eyes of fear and sorrow.

He grinned and gave her a light kiss on the neck, and slowly moved up to her bottom lip, giving it a soft chew before leaning back. "Don't worry. You'll like it here... and you'll dance whenever you want... I promise," he grinned, before seeping dark energy into her arm.

Ami tried to shake her head no, but passed out from the pain as the star king began to laugh.

Taking pictures and slamming them into jacket pocket, Jakurin cursed as she ran out of film. She knew what she had seen wasn't normal. Not even for Tokyo. And with the rumors of female super-heros dressing up and destroying public places around town with men in dark suits... well, it just lined up. "Man, this is interesting enough for a scrap-book! Maybe I'll shove it in with my articles on Sailor V," said the lemon blonde. "It must be nice to be a soldier of society like them," she said to herself, coming to a stop at a red light. "I wonder what it would be like to be a super-hero?? Risking your life everyday for people you don't even know..." She pondered that in her heart a bit as the light turned green, then smiled. "Naaaaaaaaaah, I could never do that. No money in it."

The next day the news media claimed an arsonist torched the building once known as Midnight Dance Studio, but the dancers that remained claimed they were saved from the owner by a sailor soldier. "Really!" cried one in tears. "The owner tried kidnapping us, and then set the building on fire!!"

The newswoman on the scene shook her head and turned to the cameras and the viewers everywhere. "Once again, the rumoristic sailor senshi have come into play in a crime scene, more specificaly the destruction of Juuban's local dance studio. Maxwell Stanton, reknowed multi-millionaire could not be reached for comment, but his attorney assures us that when he comes back from his buisness in China he will rebuild again. This is Fujiko Sancheiko, reporting. Back to you."