Mantis

“I am Groot,” the giant tree-like alien said, an air of concern noticeable in his deep voice.

“You can say that again, pally,” Rocket Raccoon responded, frantically checking the readouts on the dashboard of The Milano — the signature spacecraft of the Guardians of the Galaxy. “Accordin’ to these readings, we’re totally flarked.”

The Guardians were part of a larger contingency of heroes who had come to this strange world on the edge of time and space to help liberate the innocent creatures being held captive by the Elder of the Universe called the Collector. It was a mission that was particularly important to Mantis, a member of the Guardians’ crew who had until-recently found herself caught in the Collector’s clutches, forced to fight for her very survival.

“Why aren’t we taking off yet, Rocket?” Mantis asked with a sense of urgency.

“There’s some kinda invisible wall surroundin’ this entire world,” Rocket said. “It wasn’t there before, which makes me think one of the cosmic creepers who run the place must be pretty angry. And after that heist Gambit and his crew pulled in the Collector’s Gallery, I bet I know who!”

“So… we’re trapped here?” Mantis asked, the slightest hint of panic showing through her usual calm demeanor.

“Afraid so,” Rocket replied. “At least until I figure out a way to breach the barrier without killin’ us all in the process. Gimme, I dunno, like, twenty minutes and we’ll see what I can do...”

“We may not have that long,” Mantis said as she gazed out of The Milano’s cockpit window toward the Collector’s massive museum in the distance. She knew all too well the horrors that still lurked inside. And while she was proud that she had found the strength to return and free so many others like her who had been unjustly detained, the thought of being reclaimed by the Collector once again had haunted her since her first escape. The things he had forced her to do — to harm others in the arena for the amusement of his wealthy spectators — went against everything that she believed in. Mantis celebrated life… something the Collector had little respect for.

When Mantis stepped out of The Milano to get some fresh air, she saw something that she hadn’t noticed earlier while she was fleeing the Collector’s Gallery toward the Guardians’ escape vessel. She looked in disbelief at the Grand Garden… or at least what was left of it. When the Guardians had first arrived in this cosmic realm, this massive green space was overgrown with rare forms of foliage that had been gathered from across the universe. But now, all that was left were withered husks charred stems, as if all the life had been drained from the lush landscape. Mantis tried to hold back her tears as she took in the devastation… but another figure nearby was not making any effort to contain their emotions.

“The mortals did this!” the Elder known as the Gardener yelled in a rage as he knelt on the barren ground at the center of his Grand Garden, a handful of scorched soil sifting through his ancient fingers.

“To be fair,” a voice whispered into Mantis’s ear, “some of us happen to be immortal and quite proud of it.”

She turned to see Loki — the God of Mischief and the current ruler of the mythical realm of Yggsgard — standing by her side. He too gazed out at the grieving Gardener with curiosity.

“We should help him,” Mantis said. “The loss he has suffered is unimaginable.”

“His plants died,” Loki scoffed. “I am certain he will recover.”

“To a being who has devoted his entire existence to cultivating flora,” Mantis said, “it must be as if he lost his own children.”

“That’s a bit dramatic, don’t you think?” Loki asked with a raised eyebrow.

“You would know…” Mantis said with a slight smile. She and Loki had fought side-by-side in countless battles across the Chronoverse, and they had found that, despite their inherently opposite natures, in one point they were remarkably alike: they were both always true to themselves.

“Fair enough,” Loki said, bowing his head slightly to show his respect for Mantis. “Shall we see if we can ease his pain… and perhaps earn his favor?”

The unlikely pair walked toward the Gardener, who turned to them with unbridled fury in his eyes the moment he sensed their presence.

“You brought this destruction to these sacred grounds!” he snarled.

“Actually,” Loki replied snidely, “it was the Mutants. Specifically the one named Rogue. She managed to escape, but I’m sure she couldn’t have gotten too far. Perhaps if we —”

“Silence!” the Gardener snapped back. “I do not care which of you is to blame! All I care is that my Grand Garden is restored to its former glory. And none shall leave this place until that task is complete, even if it takes all of eternity!”

“So… you’re the one that put up that barrier?” Mantis asked, almost relieved by the realization. “Not the Collector?”

“The Collector and the Grandmaster are at odds yet again,” the Gardener said with disdain. “They’re likely locked in some foolish contest to prove who is to blame for all that unfolded here. It could last decades.”

“If we’re lucky…” Loki muttered under his breath.

“I can help you,” Mantis said to the Gardener. “I have a way with plants, too. They tend to listen to me.”

“Who can blame them?” Loki said with a flirtatious smile. “And if Lady Mantis chooses to aid your cause, Elder, then Lord Loki does as well.”

Mantis sat in the center of the Grand Garden and closed her eyes, concentrating deeply. She reached out with her powers, trying to communicate with any remaining vegetation in the area. But unfortunately, not even the slightest sprout remained. As she opened her eyes, she let out an exasperated gasp. She couldn’t remember feeling this hopeless before, even when she was trapped behind glass in the Collector’s Gallery.

“That wasn’t a promising reaction,” Loki said, reaching up to touch his own forehead, a rare moment of serious contemplation.

“My healing powers are potent,” Mantis said, “but true resurrection is beyond my reach. I can’t help life flourish once more in a place where there is no life left.”

“That does sound rather bleak,” Loki said, “but perhaps all we need is a change in our approach… or our tune…”

As he spoke, Loki reached up and grabbed ahold of one of the golden horns on his helmet. With a sharp pull, he snapped the horn off at its base. After casting a quick incantation, Loki raised the horn to his lips and blew into it, producing a tone that echoed across the Elders’ realm.

“Not a perfect performance,” Loki said upon lowering the horn from his lips, “but it should get the job done.”

“And what job is that?” Mantis asked, her gaze fixed on the golden horn.

“Have you ever heard of the Gjallarhorn?” Loki asked. “It is a mighty instrument that is blown to alert the gods when Ragnarok begins. Not the most pleasant thing to listen to, if you ask me, but it always does the trick. Yet in my studies of ancient Asgardian magic, I have learned that different notes have different effects. Instead of calling my fellow gods just now, I have instead summoned forth the essence of Yggdrasil itself. A mere hint of the World Tree’s power should have this wasteland back in full bloom ‘ere long…”

Just as Loki promised, the ground of the Grand Garden began to tremble and shift. Vines and stems ruptured forth… but instead of glorious green, each of these new sprouts emerged in a grim gray.

“Your magic seems to have missed the mark,” the Gardener said, clearly unimpressed. “You may have managed to bring back my plants in body… but not in spirit…”

“What is that old fool blathering about?” Loki asked Mantis quietly, offended by the Gardener’s lack of appreciation. “He acts as if these seedlings should have souls!”

“Every living thing has a soul,” Mantis said. “Plant and animal alike. Just because something isn’t sentient in the ways that we define, it doesn’t mean it can’t feel.”

“Well, if I have learned anything from that duplicitous witch Hela,” Loki said, “it is that the barrier between life and death is far thinner than most mortals realize.”

“You’re right,” Mantis said. “I can journey to the Astral Plane to seek out these lost souls. But when I find them, I will need your help to guide them back from the beyond.”

“I shall be honored to serve as your anchor,” Loki said, offering Mantis his hand. “And theirs, of course…”

Mantis took Loki’s hand and closed her eyes, concentrating deeply. Within moments, she transcended her physical form and found herself surrounded by thousands of wispy emerald spirits. Even as they swirled around her playfully, she could feel the immense sadness they carried.

“Your season has not yet ended,” Mantis said reassuringly, beckoning the spirits to follow her back to the physical plane. She glanced down toward her own body and could see that Loki was casting another spell, opening a mystic gateway between the spiritual and corporeal realms.

Soon after Mantis had ushered all of the tiny spirits through the gateway, she returned to her own physical form. Opening her eyes, she was overjoyed to see the Grand Garden beginning to flourish again. Foliage was rapidly growing and spreading across the once-sterile space, much to the delight of the Gardener.

Mantis threw her arms around Loki and embraced him, catching the God of Lies off guard.

“You have made amends for your fellow mortals,” the Gardener said.

“And immortals,” Loki mumbled quietly.

“I shall live up to my promise and remove the seal I placed around this realm,” the Gardener continued. “You are free to go.”

“Technically, I could have left any time I wanted,” Loki mused. “With the Bifrost at my command, there is nothing that can impede my travels.”

“Then… why did you stay?” Mantis asked, looking deep into Loki’s eyes for an answer.

“Isn’t it obvious, milady?” Loki asked, gracefully bowing toward Mantis, his sly smile leaving her completely unable to read his mind. “After all, I’ve had my eye on you since you aided my trusty raven, Munin, on Klyntar. Moreover, among the Ten Realms, there are few mortals who can compel me to be honest with them. You are in their number.”

“I…” Mantis tried to speak, but she was overwhelmed by feelings. The feelings of thousands of plants simultaneously blooming back to life around her. And her own feelings as well… ones she wasn’t quite ready to define…

Loki turned to walk away, but before he departed, he handed Mantis the horn that he had broken off his helmet earlier.

“Should you need me again,” Loki said, “for any reason whatsoever, this will always point the way to me. Wherever I may be. No matter how far.”

With that, a bright burst of rainbow-colored energy engulfed Loki’s form… and he was gone.

Mantis carefully clutched the broken horn as she returned to The Milano. For the first time since she returned to the Collector’s realm, she couldn’t help but smile.

But if she had witnessed what Loki had been up to while she was in the Astral Plane — if she had discovered what the Trickster had planted in the Grand Garden while both she and the Gardener were distracted — Mantis’s smile most certainly wouldn’t have lasted for long.