(Decided to write a little one-shot of the canon I made of how MC and Poldara first met.  I might make more one-shots since my Mandorian Chronicles are finished and if I do I'll make a separate book for them but for now their just going to stay here.  Also, there will be plot twists and new canons revealed in this so any questions you have please feel free to put them in the ask book so I can properly answer them.  Now enough of me rambling, enjoy the oneshot.)

(mentions of PTSD, ableism, physical and verbal assault; viewer discretion is advised)

It was 20 years after the accident and Poldara finally agreed to come with his family to UN's W.A.T.C.H party.  He never liked going out in public since it happened, he was very self-conscious about his scars and disability that he never tried to draw attention to himself, so while his parents and MA and Belarus were hanging out with their friends, he parked his wheelchair in a corner of the watch building so he would hopefully go unnoticed, his service dog Akita was his only company.

"Hey, Blue-Jay, why don't you come over with us, you can't just sit here looking miserable forever," Mandara said when he came over to check on his son.

"No thanks, Dad," Poldara said simply, "you know I don't like drawing attention to myself."

Mandara sighed and crouched down beside him, "Poldara, you don't have to be afraid about being judged here.  I guarantee you that more than half the people here have scars like you and they don't judge each other for them."

"I know, I just don't feel like talking to anyone today," Poldara said, "I'll come out later, I promise."

Mandara pursed his lips, the whole reason he wanted his son to come was to let loose and socialize, ever since his accident and the depression after that, Poldara had been very distant around people and even his family, and Mandara hoped that this watch party would help bring him back to his old bubbly self when he was a kid.

"Ok," Mandara eventually said, "but you promise you're going to give this a chance, I just don't want you to be depressed again."

"I promise, Dad," Poldara simply said, so Mandara stood up and rubbed his wing with his son's in comfort before leaving to find Poland or MA and Belarus.

Half an hour later and Poldara decided to go "mingle" with some of the other countries, and by that, he just aimlessly wandered around with Akita, still not really trying to attract any attention but at the same time trying to welcome someone to talk to him, sort of.

His wandering did end up attracting attention from a militant entity, he had dark blue skin, eyes the color of serpentine, and an eyepatch with the image of a white eagle on it.  The militant's eyes followed the winged entity, scanning his tri-color wings, his hybrid flag, and his burn scars, but what really caught his eye was the entity's missing leg.  The militant flexed the fingers of his own prosthetic arm, which caught the attention of his country.

"What's got you all fidgety," a country with stars and stripes asked, looking over to where the militant was looking, "did someone finally catch your eye, MC?"

"Who is that," MC asked, "I ain't ever seen them before."

"Oh, that's Mandara and Poland's kid, Poldara," America said, "I knew him when he was younger, the bubbliest little ball of energy you would ever meet, haven't seen him in decades though," America paused as he stared at Poldara, "good god, I remember Rus told me about the accident he had but I didn't know how bad it was, it looks like he been through war."

"Oh, he wasn't," MC asked, surprised.

America shook his head, "nope, apparently it was the day of his graduation from cadet camp and an aircraft hanger caught fire, I heard that he ran in to save people but got crushed by debris, I was very surprised that he was able to survive let alone recover from that."

MC just hummed at this information, he watched Poldara with new admiration, not to mention he was just beautiful in the militant's eyes, scars and all.  It was very hard to be attractive to MC since he felt that finding a special someone wasn't worth his time, but with the small blush forming on his face and his normal eye glowing faintly, it was pretty obvious that a spark had been lit.

"Really, Hercules," America said when he saw the look on his militant's face, "he is way too young for you, you have 200 years on him."

"That is literally the same age range as his parents, Ame," MC countered, "Mandara is also two centuries older than Poland, maybe more."

America opened his mouth to protest, but MC stopped listening and chugged the rest of the whiskey he was holding, handed the cup to America in a "hold my beer" fashion, and followed Poldara to wherever he was going.

Poldara didn't know he was being followed, he was able to talk to a few countries, Wales so far being his favored, but the minute his scars and disability were brought up he made an excuse to leave.  MC studied the winged entity intently so he would know how to approach him.  

Eventually, he made his move when Poldara was alone, walking up to him as calm and friendly as possible, tipped his cowboy hat in greeting, and said, "Howdy there, what's a fine-lookin' bird like you doin' all by your lonesome.  A poacher would be eyeing those pretty wings of yours if ya ain't careful."

Poldara jolted his head towards the voice, he was taken aback, number one, he wasn't looking at MC when he came over so he was slightly startled, and number two, no one has ever approached him like that so he was confused at how exactly to react.

"Uh, thanks, I guess," he said, eyeing this stranger uncertainly, "who are you?"

"Right, where are my manners," MC held out his hand, "name's Marine Corps, ya can call me MC though, partner."

"Ok, nice to meet you MC," Poldara said politely, he reached to shake MC's hand but saw that it was made of metal. 

His hesitation made MC retract his hand, Poldara thought he insulted the newcomer and was going to apologize but MC just smiled and said, "ya like it, got it a few years ago as a birthday present from America, it is the most advanced prosthetic ever made and the only one of its kind."  MC pulled up the sleeve of his uniform to better show it off, "Ame had a big crush on that Winter Soldier fella from the Marvel movies and decided to try and replicate his arm."

Poldara just hummed in acknowledgment, far too fascinated at the complexity of the arm, how it moved and reacted to MC just like a flesh and bone arm would.  He couldn't believe how comfortable MC was showing it to him either, he himself was never comfortable drawing attention to his disability so it was beyond him why this militant would.

"It is very cool," Poldara admitted, "I don't watch a lot of TV so I'll just have to take your word that it is similar to this Winter Soldier person." He paused, not really knowing what to say, he didn't want to ask about his scars or prosthetic since he thought that would be a sensitive subject for the other, but what MC said next surprised him.

"I really like yours though, it's simple and matches your skin color, I always preferred the simpler things over the complicated technology that Ame keeps inventin', so I'd say you're pretty darn lucky."

Poldara blinked in surprise and confusion, "wow ... n-no one has ever complimented my ... disability before-"

"Why not," MC asked rhetorically, "such a pretty thing like you deserves it.  I think your other scars are cool too, the way I see it is that scars show that you had experienced somethin' traumatic and came out stronger, so yours definitely make you a very strong person," the militant entity grabbed two bottles of beer from a passing waiter and offered one to Poldara, "and besides, ya have scars forever so might as well make the best of them, also makes for good conversation starters, am I right."

Poldara stared at the bottle like it was some horrifying weapon, he never got over all the terrible things he did to people when he was an alcoholic, he could still see his parents' terrified faces when he went on an alcohol-induced rampage, he knew that MA still had scars from holding him back when things got physical.

MC cocked his head in confusion at Poldara's reaction to the beer, "what, you don't like beer, I thought Mandara was a beer country, or maybe I'm mistakin' you for Germany since you're so close to him?"

Poldara still didn't say anything, but Akita started growling protectively at MC for making her person uncomfortable, causing MC to back up a bit.  After a minute the winged entity brought himself back to earth and backed up from MC, looking like he wanted to cry as his eye glowed brighter as the emotions started building.

"Hey, what's wrong partner," MC asked, obliviously, "was it somethin' I said?"

"N-no," Poldara said, trying desperately to fight his emotions, "I-I just ... I need ... I just need some air,"  he then whistled and Akita started leading him away from MC, who had a dumbfounded look on his face.

"God damn it, Poldara," Poldara scolded himself after a bit of wandering, "you're so pathetic if you keep letting alcohol scare you, freaking weak is what you are."

He was mad at himself, all that happened almost 20 years and he still couldn't let go of the guilt, it was infuriating.  Why couldn't he get over it, his parents and MA have forgiven him for that and moved on but he was reminded of his addiction every damn day.  He was so buried in his self-loathing that he wasn't looking where he was going and by the time Akita barked at him to watch out it was too late.

"Ouch," a country cried when the wheelchair ran into them. Their large golden wings blocked them from Poldara's vision so he thought it was Kazakhstan he ran into.

"Oh, sorry Uncle Kazak-," he stopped and shrunk in his wheelchair when the person he ran into turned around.

"Watch where you're fucking going you retard," EU shouted at Poldara, "you're going to cause someone else to be crippled like you."

"S-sorry EU," Poldara whimpered, "I wasn't looking where I was going."

"Clearly," the full-time entity growled, "why don't you take your useless ass and get out of here, there is no room for burdens like you here among real countryhumans."

Poldara wouldn't make eye contact, he just squeezed his eyes shut while Akita growled and barked at EU.  The barking drew attention from all of the countries and entities in the room, including MC, Mandara, and Poland, who were talking to each other when MC came up to ask them why Poldara acted so weird earlier.  Mandara and Poland heard the insults that EU was throwing at their son and were going to go intervene but stopped when MC crushed his glass bottle in his bare hand and marched over to the two entities, clearly very pissed.

"Hey, you better watch your mouth you overgrown turkey," MC shouted when he came closer, his eye glowing very brightly "you're pickin' on the wrong entity bitch!"

EU jerked his head to MC, Poldara opening his eyes in surprise too.

"Well well, if it isn't one-armed Dixie," EU sneered, "of course someone like you would stand up for a fellow cripple, you pathetic excuses of entities."

"And what does that make you, Feather Duster," MC growled, squaring up to the winged entity. 

He noticed that EU's face was slightly flushed and his breath reeked of wine, just great, he was drunk, this wasn't going to end well, but MC's stand-off didn't falter as he said, "no scars, no PTSD, you're too young to be called a countryhuman if you ask me.  Those of us here who have those two things have gone through hell and back and came out stronger and Poldara is no different.  He may not be able to walk as well as us, but he has more than earned his entity roll after everythin' he's been through, and what have you done to earn yours, huh?!"

"I keep the peace between European countries," EU countered, his halo was turning rather quickly from his alcohol-induced anger, which wasn't helped when he took another big swig of the wine he was drinking, "if it weren't for me, Europe would be in chaos and another world war would emerge.  I am far more important to the well-being of the continent than that pigeon is to his country." 

EU pushed MC out of the way with a wing and leaned down so he was face to face with Poldara, "isn't that right, Cripple, the only reason you're an entity is because you're Mandara's son, you're useless otherwise, if Mandara was part of the European Union I would have had him sever your entity line a long time ago."

"EU, get away from my son," Mandara shouted when he and Poland finally pushed their way through the crowd of bystanders, followed by MA and Belarus.

"Aw, the little baby blue jay needs his parents to come protect him, how adorable," EU mocked, then said to Mandara, "and what are you going to do about it, Your Highness, are you going to challenge me to an aerial duel, I don't think the second time is the charm when it comes to Mandorians!"

Mandara immediately shrunk behind his brother and whimpered as the memories were triggered to flood back.  Poldara was shocked that EU said that, he was never this rude and cruel before, sure he could be brash and self-centered at times, but this was taking things to a whole other level of uncalled for.  As he watched his father start to break down from EU's words, Poldara's eyes glowed with a new emotion; anger.

"How DARE you EU," he screamed, jumping to his feet from his wheelchair. 

Everyone there was shocked again since most of them thought he couldn't walk or stand, but he paid little mind to them as he tried to intimidate EU, flaring his wings and bristling his feathers as he uttered a guttural growl in his throat.  EU was momentarily startled, dropping his wine glass and taking a drunken step back, lowering his wings ever so slightly.  However, the threat had the exact opposite effect that Poldara wanted as it seemed to make something snap in EU.

"THREATEN ME WILL YOU?!" he screamed so loud that it shook the walls, causing most of the smarter countries and entities to book it someplace safer, "I WILL RIP OUT YOUR WINGS!!!"

The drunk entity punched Poldara so hard that he did a complete circle before falling on his face.  Poldara was momentarily stunned and couldn't register what was going on until he felt an excruciating pain in his back and left wing; EU had stomped his foot on the young Mandarian's back and was pulling on his wing, attempting to rip it off.

Akita reacted first and bit down on the leg EU was holding Poldara down with, though because of his drunken state his adrenalin was through the roof and he couldn't feel pain anymore, so despite the blood dripping down his leg and soaking through his pants, he still didn't let go of Poldara.  MC and MA were next to jump into action when Poldara's painful screams broke them out of their shock, they both grabbed him at the same time and tried to pull him off of the helpless entity.

"Let go of him you psychopath," MA shouted, trying to loosen EU's grip on his nephew's wing.

"Make me you imbecile," EU said, though his words were becoming harder to understand from his drunken rage. 

Even though he was drunk, EU's actions were much more calculating than a normal person would if they were under the influence, because he took out some pepper spray that he carries around for self-defense and sprayed it in MA's and Akita's faces, causing them to let go and fall to the ground from pain.

The pepper spray repelled most of the people who tried to help stop EU, but a few of the more determined winged countries and entities fought through the burning mist in the air to subdue EU and rescue MA, Poldara, and Akita.  MC was fortunate enough to not be sprayed, but his drunken opponent was able to grab his remaining arm and snap his wrist, then knock out the militant with an uppercut to the jaw.

Mandara and Poland ran to Poldara's side while Belarus helped MA.  Poldara had a black eye and cut lip from the punch and a concussion from hitting his head on the floor.  His wing had several feathers torn out and bleeding around where it meets his back, it was bent at an unnatural angle from being broken when EU was yanked off of him while still holding his wing.

"Poldara, Poldara can you hear me, wake up Blue-Jay," Mandara cried, he held his son and was softly patting his cheek to get him to respond, but Poldara just had a vacant stare and could only make soft groaning noises, which frightened his parents even more.

"Hercules, wake up you idiot, what the fuck were you thinking," America shouted in an angry voice to his fallen militant, he wasn't mad, that was just his way of expressing how worried he was, though him slapping MC's face didn't help him look worried.

MC's eyes snapped open and he reflexively tried to punch America, thinking he was EU. America dodged the punch and grabbed MC's arm to prevent him from trying to fight him.

"Relax buddy, it's just me," the country reassured him, "are you ok, you got hit pretty hard in the jaw."

"I think so," MC muttered as he sat up and rubbed his jaw, though when he spit out blood from biting his tongue, America shook his head in disbelief, but couldn't say anything more when a horrified yelp sounded from a cased opening.

Everyone turned to the doorless doorway, UN was standing there and his expression looked like he just stumbled onto a murder scene.  His face went from horrified to angered really quick when he figured out who caused this mess.  He marched over to where EU was being squished into the floor as a few of the winged entities were sitting on him to keep him restrained.

"European Union, what have I told you about watching how much you drink," he shouted when he was standing over his fellow full-time entity, "you know how violent you get when you're drunk."

"I was defending myself," EU grunted, "the Mandarian Family assaulted me after their special entity verbally attacked me."

"You motherfuckin' liar," MC roared, jumping to his feet, "you called Poldara useless and tried to rip off his wing, then pepper-sprayed MA and the dog when we tried to stop you!" MC looked to UN, "I swear on a stack of bibles that I am tellin' the truth, he tried to kill Poldara."

"I don't doubt it," UN simply said, which caught MC off guard, "this is why I don't like bringing him to these events."

UN snapped his fingers and the entities holding EU down let go and stepped back.  He stood up and dusted himself off like nothing happened, though his halo was still turning at the speed of light.

"You said you changed EU, you said your drinking problem was under control," UN said angrily, "now look what you've done, hurting innocent countryhumans who can't defend themselves, you take after your other father way too much."

"I don't take after Schutzstaffel, Father-," EU growled, but UN wasn't having it and raised his hand to silence his apparent son.

"I don't want to hear it, you are grounded and I am stripping away your entity lines for one whole year, you will have no authority over the European Union or the countries aligned to it, understand."

EU growled in his throat but said nothing and shoulder checked UN as he walked away, UN rubbed his face in exasperation and addressed everyone in the room, "I think we will have to cut this meeting short, I am terribly sorry for EU's actions and he will be punished accordingly for the injuries and damage he caused.  Everyone who is not injured may leave if they wish and I will personally see to it that those who are will receive the necessary treatment they need."

Many of the countries and entities that were not involved with what happened did as suggested and took their leave, the winged entities who helped stop EU stayed with the Mandarians to help them as best they could until professionals could arrive, they even tried to wash the pepper spray out of Akita's eyes.  MC refused to let any of the paramedics touch his wounds until Poldara was treated, who had fallen unconscious by this time, so he rode in the ambulance with a broken wrist and bleeding mouth and wouldn't accept help until they got to the hospital, and even then, still rejected help until Poldara got out of surgery for his wing.

When Poldara finally woke up, waiting for him was his parents and MC and Akita, MA and Belarus were in another room getting his eyes treated and making sure his nausea from the spray would settle down.

"Hey there partner, welcome back from la la land," MC said softly, trying to lighten the mood.

It worked because Poldara chuckled a little, "well then, I knew you were being flirty but I didn't know you were clingy also, am I that loveable?"

MC smiled awkwardly as a small blush spread across his face, making Mandara and Poland laugh.

"How are you feeling Blue-Jay," Poland asked, "does anything hurt?"

"I feel a little numb but otherwise I'm ok," Poldara answered, slowly sitting up in the hospital bed, the left side of his face was bandaged from his black eye and a cut on his forehead and had bandages wrapped around his wing, a cut-up bedsheet was used as a makeshift sling to secure the entity's wing to his back. "How bad is the damage," he asked.

"The doctors said that you were very lucky," Mandara said with a sigh, "apparently EU managed to tear most of the muscles and blood vessels, and dislocate the joint along with the fracture when he was pulled off of you, they said that if he kept pulling your wing would have been damaged beyond repair."

"But the surgeons were able to save the wing," MC stated the obvious, "and UN is gonna teach that bastard that you are not one to mess with."

Poldara's face turned down at that statement, "yeah, because that's just what I need, someone else protecting me when things get tough.  EU's right, I am useless."

"NO," MC shouted, startling everyone in the room.  He grabbed Poldara firmly by both shoulders, which was hard with his broken wrist, to force him to make eye contact, "you are NOT useless, don't let that conceded motherfucker's words get into your head.  Mandara and Poland told me what happened to you, you are extremely strong to go through all that and to keep fighting the aftereffects,  I have seen many soldiers in Ame's army go through similar situations and not make it, hell, I had my arm blown off by a cannonball and I barely made it out of that with my sanity.  If anything, it is my fault you got put into this situation, I offered you a drink without knowing what alcohol did to you, but none of that makes you useless, it just makes you the strongest special entity on this godforsaken planet, and if EU can't see that then he can kiss the devil's ass after I punt that vulture into the fiery depths of hell!"

The room fell silent as MC's speech hung in the air, the three Mandarians were left speechless, even Akita stared at the militant in shock.  MC only met Poldara a few hours ago, yet he was speaking like he knew him for years and saying things that only someone who truly cares about Poldara would say.  Poldara himself didn't know what to feel, he never had someone outside his family have so much respect and faith in him, he's never been told by a non-relative that he was strong or that he wasn't useless.

Eventually, a smile crossed his face, it was a pure smile that his parents haven't seen in decades, the last time they saw such a smile was when he was little, when he was still an innocent and joyful kid who hadn't a care or worry in the world.

Poldara pulled MC into a surprise hug, "thank you, no one has said something like that to me in years, you have no idea how much that means to me."

MC blinked in surprise and anger, surprise that Poldara hugged him and anger that the poor entity had been treated like garbage his whole life by other countryhumans that he has to be sitting in a hospital bed with a nearly torn-off wing to get to be told something nice for the first time in his life.

MC closed his eyes and hugged back, "you deserve all the respect in the world Poldara, I know that I just met you and all of this is probably awkward for you, but I promise that you won't have to deal with any more assholes ever again, I will personally go to every country and make sure they know what will happen to them if they disrespect you, if I had wings I would swear by them too."

Poldara just hugged him tighter, he was too happy and relieved to say anything.  Mandara and Poland were also very happy that their son was so happy, and even though he ended up in the hospital today, they had a feeling that his life was going to finally take a turn for the better.

"And that is how I met your cousin-in-law," Poldara said.

There was a minute of silence as the two little countryhumans sitting in front of him processed the story.  They both looked identical to each other, but one had blue eyes and one had amethyst eyes.

"So why did Mr. EU hate you so much," the one with blue eyes asked, "all you did was bump into him.

"I still ask myself that to this day, Zalia," Poldara said, "but we've come to a mutual agreement to keep to ourselves, though I think he only agreed to it because MC threatened to feed him to his alligator."

"I did not," came a voice from another room, MC walked out right after and leaned against the back of the couch, "I was going to throw him into the tiger pen so they could turn him into kitty litter."

The five-year-old twins giggled at MC's joke while Poldara shook his head, "you can't keep using our rescue sanctuary to threaten people, babe, you're going to get us shut down."

"Can we see the tigers today, cousin," Johann asked, "I promise we won't try to feed them this time."

"Nope, your parents are still mad at me for letting you near them last time, how about we visit something safer instead like the bearcat or the lamas," Poldara suggested.

"Ok," the twins said in unison, they sprang up and ran to get their shoes on.

Poldara whistled for Akita, who came running over with a German Shepherd in tow, as well as three puppies who had Great Pyrenees bodies with German Shepherd markings.

"Were you and Aslan playing with your kids, Akita," Poldara asked while rubbing his dog's face, MC had grabbed her harness and was fasting it to her.  Akita barked in confirmation, followed by Aslan and the puppies, making the countryhumans chuckle.

Once the harness was on, both Akita and MC helped Poldara stand and lead him towards the door where the twins were waiting.

"Cousin, why don't you live with Uncle Mandara anymore," Zalia asked, "why live in America?"

"Because this is where my husband lives silly," Poldara said, patting her head, "I go back every now and then to help my dad when he needs it, but I lived in Mandara my entire life, it was just time to leave the nest and start a life of my own."

"And I'm glad it was with me," MC said, "I wouldn't want such a pretty bird to become someone else's prize."

Poldara giggled and kissed MC, making the kids gag and run away in disgust, which prompted both adults to laugh even more.

"I also wouldn't have it any other way, MC" Poldara said, "you are the best thing that could have happened to me."

MC smiled and pressed his forehead with Poldara's to show affection, then the two walked off to follow the little troublemakers as they ran around the sanctuary, holding hands while both being grateful that they met all those years ago.

(This was much longer than I anticipated, the word count is 5,001.  Also, I got to ask, who do y'all think is worse now, EU or Prussia, because I may or may not have tried to base his personality off of the empire, anyway, hope you enjoyed MC and Poldara's oneshot, and remember to ask questions in the ask book so they can be answered properly. See you in the next one.)