Micky still got the stink eye from some of the villagers. Even though Bob was still enemy number one. But for the first time in 4 years he wasn’t actively targeted with suspicion or hate. Nobody thought he was bad luck in the village. Nobody had even thrown a stone at him in an entire day! Something had to be wrong.

Micky was getting increasingly uncomfortable with the peace, or stalemate he had called it. Nobody was trying to hurt him. Even the crotchety old elders seemed less crotchety. It was just so weird. “That’s what it’s like with normal people!” Pinky laughed. Trevor and Jeremy were following him around now. Since Bob was effectively put out of commission they didn’t know what to do with themselves.

That meant they were vicariously friends with Micky. Yet another shoe to drop. These two weren’t exactly complacent with Bob and had their own sins as well. But Pinky and he had a report going on after their battle in the dungeon. So Micky gave them a chance, after all it was all Bob’s fault. That was another thing that was going on, if there was something that went wrong the kids would say “It’s all Bob’s fault.” Even though everybody knew it couldn’t be. And oftentimes the adults would just laugh it off when they were usually stern.

Another shoe to drop.

Micky was just weirded out by all the positivity in the air. It felt uncomfortable, where were all the negativity? Where were all the cursing? Where were the beatings? Where were all the thrown rocks? Heck, Micky just realized he hadn’t seen a thrown rock in an entire day. Throwing rocks was a village wide profession. Even parents threw rocks at there own kids to get their attention. Yet, no rocks! Weird?...

Micky was wondering if somehow he had switched villages and hadn’t realized it. The spell wasn’t unheard of. Usually a prank by powerful witches. They just switched around the personality of one village for another. It seemed to be a village with one less population that his though. He would have to go to a city to ask for census records to find it. Had the witch been truly mean (Or nice, to Micky) then they would have used a village from another city-state, and then that would be impossible to find.

Pinky clapped micky on the back. For once it was someone that didn’t have more [STR] then he had [END] so it didn’t hurt or leave a bruise. He had actually gained more natural [END] from training then leveling. “Relax dude, this is what normal feels like. And now that Bob has gotten his comeuppance the village can relax since it’s not driven for war.” Pinky said “Yeah” Micky said.

Micky still had goosebumps but maybe Pinky was right, maybe things were looking up. Maybe Micky’s life was going to turn for the better. Maybe he would get to do the things he wanted and nobody would bully him. Maybe he would get those [Item]s he had been drooling of since childhood. Maybe he could marry LIttlefoot!

“Close the gates! Close the gates! We are at war! Monster raid! I repeat Monster Raid!” Screamed the [Warden] with the [Kingsmen] not that far behind.

There it was, the other shoe. It had just been waiting for his own positivity, why couldn’t he have remained negative for his whole life?!

“Micky what’s going on? The [Baron]’s kid is here!” Jimmy said as he ran up to Micky. “Fuck.” is all Micky had to say to that. With a [Monster Raid] coming and the [Baron’s] kid here that was just what they needed. If he gets even a scratch they are all screwed. Hell, he was sure the adults would have to order the little bastard around, and that was already going to screw them. He was the vindictive sort of little noble scum they always heard about. Even though he was just a little toady to anybody of any status that came by to ‘Inspect’ the village.

Micky was pretty sure ‘Inspection’ was just a noble word for taking a vacation. The adults would bring all their best food out and look grateful for it. To the point that his family wasn’t even allowed. Then when the noble left, his family would be expected to share their food with the village. Of course, luckily they weren’t the only ones, but it was still rough.

Now there was going to be an arrogant Fop, who was basically trying to give the village away to get into the good graces with other nobility, in a village about to go to war with a [Monster Raid]. This could last for days! Of course, Micky hoped not. The villages protections wouldn’t survive if the raid lasted too long.

“Do you know what’s going on?” Jimmy asked again.

“No but I know the [Warden] let’s go ask them.” said Micky

“What’s happening? Why do we have a raid?” asked Micky

“It’s those damn elders. It’s worse than we thought if we hadn’t discovered it in time the raid might have turned into a [Siege]. We went in [Deep] for an inspection. We told the village elders to expect a [Monster Raid] since these weren’t uncommon for newly discovered dungeons, but look at this place! Idiots” Rogers said.

A [Monster Siege] isn’t good. That would mean the monsters would both surround the village and could appear inside the village walls. A lot of people will die in a [Monster Siege]. Mostly the unprepared, but also the weak, those without classes, the old, and the infirm. Micky knew why they set it off, it didn’t help he still blamed them.

“When we saw signs of a [Siege] we decided to set off the [Monster Raid] early. It would not have been good if the village had gotten caught with it’s pants down around it’s ankles, but look. Does this look like it is prepared for a raid?!” Lola said.

“Fuck” Micky said, *Smack*. “Do you talk to girls with that mouth?!” Lola said. She was wearing gauntlets, there was blood.

“Like you’re one to talk.” Roger snorted, in a whisper. Lola just glared at him.

“Get ready for the raid Micky, every able body. You two, can you fight?” they both nodded. “Good, then get ready yourselves.” Lola said.

“The [Baron]’s kid is here.” Micky said. “Fuuck.” said Lola, Rogers eyes laughed at her. Her eyes glared back.

Micky ran towards home. When he got there he didn’t see anybody but his siblings and Susan. “Monster raid we need to get to the Walls!” Micky yelled at Susan. “And you guys need to get to the village center, warn everybody that you come across.” Micky told the runts. They knew what to do, the older ones picked up the younger and trundled off. Micky grabbed the [Token] for Pepperoni and told her to follow them to the village center. When they arrived she was to come back and help Micky at the walls.

Micky ran towards where his dad worked and yelled “[Monster Raid]! To the walls!”

Micky’s dad’s boss looked at him with a glare. “Now you’re sure about this son? I don’t want you lyin’ to me now!”

“You can do whatever you want, but my dad’s got to get to the walls!” Micky said.

An adult not getting to the walls in a [Monster Raid] when they knew about it? Treason. And there was only one punishment for treason. You could get to the walls and then run when things turned bad. You could run if they said they couldn’t hold the wave because it was too powerful. But if you were told there was one and didn’t you would be a coward that the entire village looked down on. They wouldn’t sell out their own, but they would never respect you. And this man was a village elder, he lived on respect. So he was pissed with Micky, but he still listened to him.

“Everybody stop what your’ doin’ to the walls! And you better not be lyin’ to me boy’ or your going to regret it.” Micky’s Dad’s Boss said.

Micky didn’t even bother to respond. He left and yelled “[Monster raid]! To the walls!” while he ran towards his mothers work. Some of the adults would try to stop him and ask what was going on. “[Dungeon Explosion].” He would say. The adults would get an angry look in their eye as they prepared to fight the creatures that came from the dungeon. However, the village elders would get a worried twinkle to them as well.

His mother’s workplace was a lot more amicable. When he said “Mom [Monster Raid], to the walls!” His mother’s boss didn’t even blink. She wasn’t an elder but her husband was, and her daughter was going to be any time now. “You heard the lad! [Monster Raid]! To the walls!”

Micky made his way back to the walls and joined up with Jimmy and Pinky. They were soon joined by Pepperoni as well. Micky also warned Tim while he was at it. Tim and Silver would join them as soon as he got his wife to the village center.

When Micky got to the walls he found his dad’s boss yelling and hollering. “Where’s this fucking ‘monster raid’ hu? I don’t see no monster raid do you?”

“We’ve told you it’s coming. Shouldn’t you be glad we’ve already given you fair warning?” Said Roger exasperated.

“I bet that kid put you up to this. Mr. Anderson after this is all said and done we will be having words.” He said.

“Yes sir.” His dad said with his head lowered.

“Oh get your’ head out your’ ass Carlson. If there’s no raid then we can have a nice picnic and a day off. If there is your’ just a coward that wants to leave it to the real men while he has the excuse that veni vidi vici. But really you’re a limp dick coward. Don’t worry you can shiver behind my ass. I’ll protect you.” Said Mom’s boss

“You bitch! I’ll have words with your husband! He’ll be off the council! I’ll make sure of… You!” He said as he turned to Micky. “You lied to me! It appears I’ll have ta discipline you myself, since your pa dunt do it!” He said as he charged towards me. This time Micky’s dad stood in front of him. *Pow* *Wam* *Kapow* Dad’s boss smacked Micky’s father. Then he gave a smug smile to Micky’s Dad’s glare.

“Your fired Tom, and your kids going to be in chains for lyin’ to me!” Dad’s Boss said.

“Don’t worry I’ll save you the trouble of firing me. I quit.” Micky’s Dad said. There was a rumbling as he said that.

“Well, apparently there is a [Monster Raid] Carl. Go back to the village center coward and let the real adults fight. Come here kid.” Said Misses Mina, Mom’s boss.

“We’ll have words after this Tom, and you too kid.” Micky’s Dad’s Boss said as he got in line on the walls. Misses Mina just rolled her eyes at him. This man never knew when to give up. Good in a fight, terrible in anything else. Unfortunately, he was a coward so it never came to a fight. Misses Mina cracked her knuckles, the coward always went home crying before she could get a good fight in.