Maybe she was naive. After, naivety wasn't quite as bad as most people made it out to be and it was better to be naive than ignorant, was it not? Sailor Canopus knew that she had a rather lofty idea of what her end goal was and the duties that came with being a Dark Mirror Senshi, especially in her earlier weeks, but she held no fault against herself or even any members of her court about it. She knew that it wouldn't be easy. She also knew that there was more to her court that she didn't know, either in its past, its present, and, God willing, its future.

Her recent ordeal with the Negaverse had helped in combating that naivety some, though it wasn't enough to take out her spirit and crush it tightly within its cold, black fingers. There was still some hope for the this war could find a peaceful solution between all of the factions, but it would simply take more time and effort from all parties to accomplish it. And though she wasn't sure what her role would be and what sacrifices would have to be made to obtain it, she was certain that it could be done peacefully...

And tonight, she'd prove it.

She had found someone who looked like they were ripe for the pickings, full of energy and life, and she made her approach, never calling her Mirror Wraith to her and making sure to appear just as small and harmless as a lamb would. At first, he was curious as to her outfit and had asked if she had just returned from a convention of some kind, but it didn't take much effort for Canopus to explain who, and what, she was, as well as her intentions on approaching them. Perhaps it was seen as panhandling and there was a tinge of shame that swelled in her chest that she found herself resorting to requesting energy, but she would rather beg for energy and leave empty handed than to take what was no hers to have.

"It won't take much," Canopus told the man when he showed hesitation. She would not hold it against him if he said no- after all, she never had her energy drained from her and in turn had not witnessed the event occur to someone else, so if he feared there'd be pain, she could not guarantee that there wouldn't be any. When he looked ready to say now, she added softly. "A little bit will go a long way for us... with this energy, we could leave your city and you'd never have to worry about us again. It'll work out for the best in the end, wouldn't it?"

He said he held nothing against her or her kind, and finally, he left, apologizing and quickening his pace as to put as much distance between them as possible. Canopus didn't follow... instead, she let out a soft, sorrowful sigh, before sucking in her misery and moving towards the next person she could find. She wouldn't force them to give up their energy, just as she would not force them to endure their existence here if they were not desired.

Maybe she was naive...

Word Count: 539 words.