M:   Russia met his glance with a glare, "sure Iremacht, like how your 'handling' the unrest in my country."

Russia then shouted to the crowd that still surrounded the countries, "party's over everyone, go back to what you were doing."

Since Russia was intimidating at the best of times, the crowd quickly dispersed as the Germans, Belarus, and France came.

Belarus's eyes immediately landed on the clipped feathers and scissors on the ground, she picked one and handed it to Wehrmacht, "does that answer your question?"

L:   Iremacht's eyes went wide and he looked at where the others had stopped a distance away to inspect the scene, hoping they hadn't heard.

"Can we talk about this later?" Iremacht murmured to Russia. His eyes flickered pointedly to Poldara. He didn't want to lose the kid's friendship over this, not after all the trouble. "I'll make it up to you." His voice cracked in rare desperation. He was never one to beg but a small, "Please" escaped his lips.

Wehrmacht stared at the feathers and scissors. He looked at Poldara's wings. One of them was uneven.

"Who the fuck—Iremacht wouldn't—" Wehrmacht's wings vibrated in distress; he didn't know what to think anymore.

M:   Russia followed his gaze to Poldara, he understood what he meant and sighed, "I suppose we can, you protected him, that's all the repayment I need."

"Iremacht didn't do it," Kaz said as he walked over to the adults with Poldara, who was clinging to him like he did to Germany when he first met Iremacht, "There is this gang of teenagers that loves to torment the kid. Their ringleader, Adem Phillips, has a heavy grudge against the Mandarians because his father died in the Ukrainian war, he blames MA for it and has been picking on Poldara as revenge."

Poldara nodded, "Adem's girlfriend distracted Iremacht for a little bit, but he came to help before I had two clipped wings."He then hugged his clipped wing, "but it's fine, feathers grow back, they'll go away for a few years like always."

Kaz's own wings lowered, "It has been this way ever since he was 7, we have tried everything to stop it but the teens keep coming back."

L:   Wehrmacht breathed out a sigh of relief but it was quickly replaced with concern at what he had heard.

"This has been going on for five years?" he said, tilting his head. "I understand the grudge against MA, but taking it out on his nephew isn't right. Poldara didn't do anything to deserve this."

"Why doesn't Mandara step in?" Germany asked. "This is his son who's being bullied. As the country, he has every power and right to give consequences."

Next to Russia, Iremacht breathed out his own sigh. He wasn't looking forward to explaining himself to Russia later, but at least he could divert all his attention on Poldara at the moment. Iremacht rejoined the other adults and squatted down next to Poldara. He didn't like that the kid was clinging fearfully to Kazakhstan when he should be enjoying himself in the celebration and rides.

"I'm sorry I got distracted and didn't get to you sooner. How long before the clipped feathers grow back?" Iremacht asked tentatively.

M:   "As my brother said, we have tried everything," Russia said as he too joined the group, "The teens are smart, they make sure that the crimes can't be traced back to them, so they have been able to get away with a lot."

"Mandara even has a restraining order filed against them, but they couldn't care less." Kaz added, "And it didn't even start with Poldara, literally five months after the war they assaulted MA. They should have gotten life sentences for that considering MA was left with two broken wings, but they took plea deals and got a year of probation."

Poldara didn't like the conversation the adults were having, so he was glad that Iremacht came to distract him, "a few months, though it varies from time to time."

Belarus on her end was furious, she knew about all of this already, she was mad at Wehrmacht for letting Poldara out of their sight.

"Wait a go, Wehrmacht," she barked, "I told you we had to keep an eye on Poldara for his parents, but you just had to send him away with the most irresponsible countryhuman on the fucking planet. I am not surprised that your son has turned into a Prussia playboy because you clearly have no fucking idea how to handle children." she then pulled out her phone, "I'm calling Mandara," and didn't wait for a response as she walked away to do so.

Russia and Kaz were taken aback by Belarus's sharp words, they then looked to the others, "did we miss something?" Kaz asked.

L:   Wehrmacht tried yelling after Belarus but it was no use; she had already gone and made up her mind. He closed his eyes and craned back his neck to face the sky forlornly.

"Iremacht had a rocky start with the Mandarians," Germany explained to Russia and Kaz. "Let's just say, he's allowed to stay but none of us trust him not to make trouble. Not anymore, at least. We thought we'd give Machty one more chance by leaving him to take care of Poldara - or rather, have them take care of each other. Clearly, that didn't work out."

"I can't believe those teens would go out of their way to make their own countryhumans suffer," France lamented. "It looks like they got scared away this time, but what happens when we leave? They'll come back and continue to terrorize poor Poldara. He doesn't deserve this treatment."

Like Poldara, Iremacht also tried to shut out the conversation, though he was having a harder time doing so when it was about his failures. He mustered a reassuring smile at Poldara.

"I see," he murmured. "At least you got over your fear of heights before then. Just remember the ground is nothing to be afraid of. Like you said, feathers grow back. You'll always be able to fly. No matter what happens."

M:   "From what we saw, I'd say Iremacht actually succeded," Russia said, "we caught the tail end of him threatening the kids to stay away from Poldara, I doubt they will listen, but my point is that he protected Poldara from further harm."

Kaz nodded in agreement, "as for the teens, I don't know what else there is to do, it's pretty much down to he can't go anywhere without an adult watching him very closely. But I am scared that one of these days those kids are going to take things too far."

Poldara nodded at his words, he smiled half-heartedly, "thanks Iremacht, I just wish I could make them stop so this wouldn't keep happening." his wings then sagged, "they say I am weak for not fighting back, that I will never worth anything, maybe their right."

L:   "No!" Iremacht grabbed both of Poldara's shoulders the moment the kid said those words. "Don't make me say the same words I said to your uncle. You are not worthless, you are not weak. You are the son of Mandara, nephew of Mandara Army, dear friend to all of us here." Iremacht shook Poldara a bit like he was trying to get his point across more. "You made me stop to think for a second when no one else could. That's worth a lot to me."

"We need to talk to Mandara and MA about this," France said. "Sort this out as soon as possible because this isn't something to put off any longer." She glanced at where Belarus was calling those said Mandarians.

"How kindly would they take the news," Wehrmacht mumbled. "And on their independence day ... everything was supposed to run smoothly."

"Maybe we shouldn't bother them?" Germany was also nervously looking in Belarus's direction. "Both of them are getting ready for their ceremonies. If having this in the back of their minds means ruining their whole performance ..." Germany shook his head. "Why do we always have to cause so much trouble?"

M:   Russia raised a brow, "are you kidding me. Poldara is their son, they need to know he was hurt, he is much more important to them than their events. You clearly have never had kids Germany if you would suggest such a thing."

Poldara was slightly taken aback by Iremacht's firm tone of voice, he wasn't sure if he should feel scared or reassured, he just stayed silent and nodded a little.

Belarus eventually came back, ignoring Wehrmacht, "Mandara wants us to meet him and Poland by the stage near Mandoria's statue, immediately." She emphasized the word immediately.

L:   Wehrmacht winced at the cold shoulder that Belarus gave him but nodded and started making his way back to Mandoria's statue - guessed they'd be reconvening there earlier than expected. Germany ducked his head at Russia's truthful jab at him and guiltily hurried after his uncle.

"Take it easy, Iremacht," France said, noticing how overwhelmed Poldara looked. "I agree, Poldara is the most precious to us all. But come along now, both of you. Poldara's parents need to be here when we sort this out."

Iremacht released his grip on Poldara's shoulders but took Poldara's hand in his as he stood up, as if daring anybody to harm the kid with the militant right next to him. In reality, he wasn't sure if he was ready to face the Mandarians; he was in need of a hand-hold just as much. Exactly how many chances would he be given before the trouble he got himself into was more than he could handle? Iremacht found himself scared of the answer as they followed the others.