"So. Today is the day, huh? You gonna finally fly?" The albino boy asked, that once lonely child now at a strapping age of twenty one. The small yellow bird chirped, causing a laugh to bubble out of the young man's lips.

"Nein! You cannot stay here forever, Gilbird." The man sighed and looked down at the people milling about, unaware of his existence above them. "That alone is my fate." He heard chuckling coming from behind him, and a comforting stone arm slung itself around the man. Gilbert, for that was the man's name, turned to look at his friends.

The oldest one was Francis. He had been carved from rock that sparkled in the sunlight, his blonde hair and charming personality causing him to be the "romancer" of the group.

The second eldest was Antonio. The statue that he and Francis were supposed to be paired along side with had been broken, so they had been thrown in the bell tower to gather moss. Antonio was Spanish by nature, and was often considered the friendliest of the three.

The youngest, Alfred, was in fact of Gilberts own creation. When he was seventeen, he had found the large block up in the rafters of the church, unfinished and abandoned. Gilbert had spent the next year and a half sculpting him with only Francis and Antonio to help him. In fact, Gilbert and the other two considered him the "baby of the family", because he was so young.

"Good morning Antonio, Alfred and Francis." He said, ducking out from under the arm of the oldest, Francis. Alfred beamed back at him.

"Good morning Gil! Hey, do you know where my glasses went?" The statue asked. Gilbert laughed as he leaned over and poked them from where they were sitting on the man's nose.

"I swear, sometimes you're vorse than Roddy." The white haired man chuckled, striding over to one of the ledges, swinging himself up and over onto one of the many roofs. He peered downwards, the height making his stomach swoop in delight as he stared at the tiny specs darting around to live their day to day lives. He sighed, placing his face in one of his hands, the other idely placed across his knees, squatting as the wind brushed his snow white hair away from his pale complexion. He sat back, dangling his legs off the roof edge, allowing his ruby red eyes to drift shut. He stayed like that for a few moments, allowing the sun to wash over him and warm him. His eyes snapped open as he heard one of his bells tinkle, a sign that his "guardian" was coming. Gilbert grasped the edge of the roof, then gracefully flipped over and landed down precariously on a rail. He turned, walking for a bit before he flipped off onto the floor, his boots making a light "tink" as he landed. He walked over to the door and threw it open, wrapping his arms around the general.

"Ivan! Vhat vas taking you so long?" Gilbert said, smiling brightly. Ivan smiled back slightly, allowing himself to pat the other male on the head.

"Hello, Gilbert. How are you being while I was away?" The white haired man bustled over to the shelf he had made years ago, taking down the dishware he had. He placed them on his rickety table, pulling up one of his nicer chairs, and then sitting on one of his short stools. Ivan placed a basket on the table, the pleasing smell of breakfast drifting out of the towel covering the food.

"Eh, most of the day I am bored. Gilbird finally flew the nest, though! And there is a festival coming up soon. Oh! And Alfred forgot his glasses vere on his face, just like Roddy does all the time..." Gilbert trailed off as he felt the older man's cheery expression slip, exposing the confusement and anger he felt.

"Gilbert, ve have been talking about this. Alfred is not real. Neither are the others. Only me and Rodrich." Ivan said, clearly worried and upset with his ward. Gilbert hung his head in shame, averting his eyes from the other man in front of him.

"Sorry, Ivan. I forgot. You and Roddy." He mumbled, his eyes flickering up to connect with Ivan's gaze only to dart away again.

"Remember, Gilbert. The world is cruel. The world is wicked. It's I alone whom you can trust in this whole township. Rodrich and I are your only friends. He who keeps you, teaches you, feeds you, dresses you. And I who look upon you without fear. How can we protect you, Gil, unless you always stay up here? Away up here?" Ivan sighed, turning to face Gilbert. He placed a hand on the shorter man's shoulders, staring into his ruby red eyes.

"Remember vhat I taught you, Gilbert." He said. Gilbert nodded and echoed what he heard the other man say, what had been spoken all his life.

"You are different"

"I am different." He said, dropping his gaze to his feet.

"And you are scary."

"Ja. I'm scary."

"These are weaknesses for which people hold no pity. You are not understanding. You do not comprehend." Gilbert hung his head.

"They will think I'm hell sent."

"Out there they will think you are a demon"

"I am a demon" Gilbert echoed.

"Out there they will hate and scorn and fear"

"Only a demon" his eyes were watery now.

"Why invite their calumny and consternation? Stay in here. Be faithful to me. Do as I say, obey, and stay up here." Ivan said. He stood a few moments longer, then turned back to the small door in front of him.

"Vell, goodbye Gilbert. I am going." Then the door shut behind him, the hollow echoing in the bell tower reminding Gilbert just how alone he was. He walked back to one of the many balconies, gripping the railing tightly, until imprints of his hands were left in the soft metal. He stared down at the crowd gathering in the town square.

"They don't know..." He sighed. "They don't know vhat I vould give to be one of them."

"Safe behind these vindows and these parapets of stone, Gazing at the people down below me." The albino pressed a palm to one of the various windows. "All my life I vatch them as I hide up here alone. Hungry for the histories they show me. All my life I memorize their faces, knowing zem as they vill never know me." He walked over to his table, running his finger over a few of the carvings he had done of the townspeople.

"All my life I vonder how it feels to pass a day, not above zem, but among them!" Gilbert walked over to a window and threw it open.

"And out there! Living in the sun! Give me one day out zere, all I ask is one! To hold forever out there. Vhere they all live unaware, vhat I'd give! Vhat I'd dare! Just to live one day out there! Out there among ze soldiers and ze knights and zeir squires, Through ze roofs and gables I can see them! Ev'ry day zey shout and march and go about the blacksmiths fires, heedless of the gift it is to be zem! If I vas different, I'd treasure ev'ry instant!" Gilbert scaled the architecture, swinging freely over the dizzying fall and landing on a different roof.

"Out zere, strolling by the snow. Sieze a morning out there, like ordinarys know. Zose who freely walk about there. Just one day and then I svear I'll be content vith my share. Von't resent! Von't despair! Old and bent, I von't care. I'll have spent one day out zere!" He smiled brightly, looking back at the gathering in the town square. His brows furrowed in confusement at how many people there were. It wasn't a holiday, and there weren't any public announcements, or Ivan would have told him. His confusement deepened as he descended lower, scaling down the architecture to get a closer look. He dropped into a crouch, hiding himself behind the stone railing so no one saw him.

"Vhat is going on?" He asked himself, peering at the crowd. Suddenly, his breath was stolen away as he caught a glimpse of gold and blue darting through the crowd. He looked closer and discovered that it was a boy. A dancer. Gilbert watched in amazement as the brunette twirled through the audience, spinning and snapping his hips in time to the beat that he played on his glittering tamborine. He felt his heart patter a bit, then he stopped.

"Hey man, where you going in such a rush?" Alfred asked, swooping down and landing lightly next to the paralyzed albino.

"Nein... Novhere. Just... Vatching." Gilbert answered absent mindedly, his words leaving in a sigh as he watched the boy dance. Antonio flew down from where he was previously perched, coming to assist the youngest in his quest.

"No, mi amigo. There must be something troubling you." The Spanish statue said, placing a hand on the man's upper arm. Gilbert turned to look at his three friends.

"Look at him." He said, gesturing to the boy before him, dancing. "Isn't he gorgeous?" Francis smiled from where he saw the boy.

"Ah, yes. The dancer. You have good taste, no?" Gilbert turned an alarming shade of red.

"Nien! Not like- No! It's not!" The statues chuckled as he spluttered his denials. Gilbert eventually fell silent, watching transfixed as the delicate boy weaved around, being followed by a goat holding a hat for the coins.

"Zere's nothing vrong vith vatching, ja?"

-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-

Hahaha! I finally updated... yay? Well... I hope you guys like the story so far and I'm hoping I'll get a review soon that isn't Val just typing in question marks. If you guys could give me some constructive criticism, I would love that. And if you see any mistakes or have any questions, feel free to ask or point out! c:

MC out

(EDIT: I forgot part of a sentence... *sweatdrop* well thats embarrassing...