Chapter 4: Heart Break

A six year old Mantis was playing a game with his brothers and sisters. They were practicing their speed and agility. Mantis's brother Bo went first and made it up the tree branch in five minutes. His sister Lana went next and she made it up within four minutes. As each of his siblings made it up to the branch they all stared down at Mantis.

"Come on Mantis, you can do it," called his sister Ava.

"Yeah come on Mantis," his brother Gage said. Mantis looked up at the branch and a worried look fell over his face. He was the runt of the group by far and was told by some of his uncles that his mom was told to kill him. For, if a female mantis has a runt, they do not live long, and some mothers, kill the runts off, quickly, so as a way to spare them the pain of struggling to survive. Yet, his mother did not kill him but told everyone that he would live and six years later here he was still standing, even if he was the runt. He stared up at the branch and breathed deeply.

Come on Mantis, you can do this, he said with confidence. He took a great leap and zoomed up to the branch. Once he landed all of his brothers and sisters looked at him with awe.

"How did you do that?" asked his brother Ling.

"Do what?" Mantis asked him.

"Mantis, look down," Gina his sister said. Mantis did and to his shock a streak of fire where Mantis ran up the tree branch followed him.

Did I really do that? he wondered. According to his brothers and sister, Mantis made it up the tree branch in five seconds flat. Yet, unbeknown to Mantis this was only the beginning.

Two years later

Mantis now eight was washing dishes with his mom, Jetta. "Mom, can I ask you for some advice?" he asked.

"Of course you can dear," Jetta said smiling at her son.

"I like this girl, her name is Hao," Mantis said even saying her name made his heart flutter.

"Oh I see," Jetta said frowning a bit. Hao was a well know girl and even at a young age was attracting male praying mantises all over the village. Yet, Hao seemed that she was never satisfied for long, she dated one mantis boy for he gave her juicy fruits but dumped him when another boy gave her shiny pearls. Jetta saw the love struck look in her son's eyes and knew he had eyes for Hao as well.

"I want to know is how I could impress her?" Mantis asked looking up at his mom with hopeful eyes.

"Ah well Mantis," Jetta said but feared that this Hao would only break her son's heart. "I am sorry my dear but you are much too young to worry about attracting female mantises, ask me when you are at least 16," she said preying that this crush on Hao would be gone. Unfortunately it would not.

Five years later

Mantis was grooming himself to go on a date with his girlfriend, Hao. They had been dating for three months now and he was still in love. He still couldn't believe that he impressed her with his own speed.

Three months ago

Mantis was zooming around his yard doing chores when he heard Hao nearby. He leaped up to a tree branch and gazed upon her. Hao was a dark green female mantis with beautiful pinchers and a lovely smile. His heart skipped a beat when he heard her laugh. She was talking to a dark brown Mantis named Dosu and he had the same love struck look Mantis had when he saw Hao. Mantis was about to get back to his chores when he saw a branch above Hao snapping. If he didn't do something soon she would be harmed. Without thinking he zoomed into action and grabbed Hao before the branch could hurt her. "Hao, are you okay?" he asked.

"Mantis, you saved me thank you," Hao said batting her eyes. Later that evening she asked to be his girlfriend and he had never been happier.

"Time to see my girl," he said happily and hopped down to her place. Before he reached her house he heard her heavenly laugh."Hao," he said smiling and found her by a cherry tree only she was kissing another mantis, a golden one that was twice as big as he was. Mantis's heart broke as he looked on with awe. "Hao, hey get off my girl!" Mantis yelled springing at the other Mantis.

"Mantis stop!" Hao yelled. He stopped in front of her with shocked eyes. "I am sorry Mantis but our relationship wasn't working out I met someone new, no hard feelings," she said and with a smile led her new boyfriend away. With tear stained eyes he watched them leave and headed to the lake. Before he got there he was hit and knocked to the ground.

"Girlfriend stealer!" shouted Dosu.

"What?" Mantis asked.

"Don't play dumb three months ago Hao was my girlfriend then you show up and steal her from me. Now I decided to make you pay!" Dosu yelled.

"Don't bother with her Dosu, she left you for me and she left me for someone else. She never really loved us," Manti explained.

"You lie! Hao will love me again once I destroy you!" Dosu yelled and flew at Mantis. Mantis rolled his eyes and zoomed away and Dosu smacked dab into the wall being knocked out cold. Mantis left him there and hopped to the lake. Unbeknown to him, this would not be the last time he would see Dosu.

The moon was pale and full as Mantis gazed into the water. Tears fell from his face as he remembered all the great times he had with Hao. He remembered how good it felt to hold her in his pinchers and kiss her. All his life he wanted to marry her, have kids, and have her bite his head off, now that would never be. "I can't believe I loved her just so she would leave me for someone else," he sniffed. His face grew angry and his heart ached with pain.

"Love is complicated Mantis," said a voice. Mantis jumped and saw a red panda dressed in a red robe holding a walking stick smiling at him.

"Who are you and how do you know my name?" Mantis asked.

"My name is Master Shifu, and I live in Peace City. I heard great things about you Mantis and wanted to see if you wouldn't mind using your talents for a team me and my master are forming," Shifu explained.

"This guy wants me to use my powers to help him? He is a nut no one has powers like me, Mantis thought.

"You really think you are the only one with powers?" Shifu asked. Mantis was shocked did this red panda read his mind? "Yes I did read your mind and I can also do this," Shifu said. He lifted up his hand and rocks floated around them. Mantis was impressed as he watched in awe. "That is only a taste of what I can do, but if you want to come with me, you will be seen as a hero and be around people who have gifts like you or you can stay here, the choice is yours," Shifu said and he got up and began to walk away.

"Master Shifu wait!" Mantis called hopping up to him.

"Yes Mantis?" he asked. Mantis began to think and if he did go with Shifu, he could help people. Get over Hao and maybe find someone worthy to love. It was worth a shot right?

"I'm in," Mantis said bowing. Shifu only smiled as Mantis became another part of his and Oogway's team.

Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please review. A special thanks to KungFuPandaFanatic for helping me with some ideas.