This is the 10th chapter. Okay listen up, when I watch this episode and read the story 'Rejected and Misplaced', one thing that I have to agree is that a lie can only bring you nothing but trouble. Also, that episode reminds me of the old Aseop's Fable called 'A Boy Who Cried Wolf' and an old Walt Disney movie 'Pinocchio' which it's also an important lesson not to lie and tell them the truth. I don't own the series of One Piece.

No flame reviews.

Expose the Plot!

Gecko Island

At the hill, Zoro and Ventus have gone back at sparring each other which they've been at it for a while. However, Carrot, Pepper, and Onion were still waiting for Usopp and Nami was still waiting for Luffy which they have been gone for a while. Carrot then look at the path with a sigh and Nami was sitting at the top of the wooden fence. Both Zoro and Ventus stopped since they worked up a good sweat.

"Kid, let's take a break." Zoro told him. "We've gone at it for a while."

Ventus give him a nod with an agreement as they then take a break. Carrot walk a few steps and stopped as he spoke.

"Our Captain's been gone for quite a while." Carrot said with worry.

"Yeah and Luffy too." Zoro added seriously, crossing his arms.

"He probably just needs some time." Onion stated.

"Whenever he gets really upset like this, you can count on him hanging out by the shore." Pepper pointed out.

Until, Carrot saw someone was running towards them, earned the two boys attention as they look. It happens to be Usopp running towards the village with his serious look in his eye.

"Captain!" Carrot, Pepper, and Onion said in unison.

That got Nami's attention along with Ventus and Zoro when they noticed Usopp was running and Luffy was missing.

"Hold on, I thought Luffy was suppose to be with him." Zoro stated, raised his eyebrow.

"Captain!" Carrot, Pepper, and Onion said in unison, but Usopp run pass them when they jumped out of his way as he continues to head towards the village.

"Hey where's Luffy? Is he still at the shore?" Nami asks with worry.

Usopp ignored her when his mind was straight set towards the village and warn them about Klahadore's true intention and the upcoming attack.

"Wow, he looks really upset, but why? Still mad at the butler?" Nami questions, watching Usopp running.

"Who knows." Zoro shrugs as they watch Usopp disappeared from the track.

Ventus just stood silent, noticed that something is gone terribly wrong.

"No, that wasn't just a 'mad' face." Carrot pointed out.

"That look is different." Pepper added.

"It was the tragic face of sheer desperation." Onion added.

"Hey, why don't you guys show us the way to get down to that shore." Zoro suggests when he turned his head to the three boys.

"This smells like an adventure to me." Carrot said when the boys huddled together.

"Yeah, something happened the shore." Pepper nods.

"I think this calls for the Usopp Pirates." Onion added when Zoro walk towards them.

"Enough already! How do we get to this place?" Zoro questions with annoyance. Ventus couldn't help but sigh since those three boys were in high spirit for adventure which it can only lead them into trouble. He knew that look on Usopp's face, it would appears that he's serious and desperate.

Nami then jumps off of the wooden fence as they began to head the shore since the three boys were leading them.

Usopp has finally reached his destination, he was worn out and heavily panted, tried to get some air as he tried to speak while panting.

"Terrible news...Pirates! Pirates are coming! Everybody run!" Usopp yelled. "We don't stand a chance! Everybody run! Run!"

However, the villagers didn't believe him since they already knows that he's lying, but they didn't realize that Usopp is really telling the truth, much to his dismay.

"Tomorrow morning, they're going to attack the village! We gotta get outta here!" Usopp warned them, but neither of them are listening. "What are you doing!? Run! Is anyone even listening to me!? Pirates!"

Until, one of the villagers came out of their buildings with furious expression on their faces as they walk towards him. Usopp was happy to see that one of them listens, but they are really angry at him for lying to them.

"Alright Usopp, enough is enough."

"We can't take it anymore. We're putting us down for this here and now! It's for your own good."

"No! It's not like that. It's the truth this time, I promise." Usopp tired to convince him, but none of them are buying it.

"Stop it! We all know that you're nothing but a liar."

"It would do you some good to follow Klahadore's example of hard-work and honesty."

That got Usopp gasped with shock when he remembered Kuro's words about him as a liar which he took the bait and fall for Kuro's scheme.

'Oh no! This is exactly what Klahadore's counting on! He ignored me because he knew no one would believe me.' Usopp mentally thought, realized what Kuro have told him since those words have echoed on his mind.

Meanwhile at the mansion, the other butler have arrived at the mansion to show the glasses case to Kaya. He's a tall, formally dressed butler whose most distinguishing feature is his lamb-themed appearance. His hair is curly like a lamb's fleece and has two lamb horns sticking out of it. His lips also resemble those of a lamb, even his collar has a fleece around it.

"Are these to your liking, miss?" The butler asks politely, showing the glasses to her. "Custom made to your exact specifications. It was quite a trip to get them."

"There just perfect." Kaya said with a smile. "Thank you so much for traveling so far to get them for me."

The butler then approaches Kaya, giving the glasses case to her as she takes it and sit at the edge of her bed.

"There a gift, aren't they?" The butler asks with a smile.

"Yes." Kaya nods. "As of tomorrow will be exactly three years to the day since Klahadore arrived here. He's always taking care of me."

"He'll be delighted to see such a lovely gift." The butler stated.

"I hope so." Kaya agrees.

Meanwhile at the village, Usopp tried to convince the villagers that he's truth, but neither of them ever believes him since he is well-known as the liar.

"Please hear me out everyone, our lives depend on it!" Usopp exclaimed, tried to tell them the truth. "Listen, pirates are gonna attack the village in a morning!?"

"If we believed every story you ever told us, we would've running screaming from the village hundreds of time already."

"Please believe me! We don't have time!" Usopp tried to convince them which they're too angry about that, taking a few steps back. "I'm not lying this time, I swear! Don't you get it! They'll murder you all!"

"You'll be lucky if we don't murder you!?"

The villagers then take up arms as they were about to get Usopp, but he began to make a run for it.

"I'm not lying!?" Usopp yelled while running.

"Get him!"

"Don't let him escape!"

With that, the villagers began to rush after Usopp with their different arsenals.

Meanwhile, the three boys, Nami, Zoro, and Ventus have made their way at the shore which is where Usopp was usually at along with Luffy.

"This is the place." Carrot told them.

"Our Captain always comes here to be alone and think." Pepper added.

"It is nice." Onion said.

They began to search for Luffy which he's nowhere to be found.

"I don't think that straw hat guy is here." Pepper told him, causing Zoro to raise his eyebrow.

"He was here." Ventus said, sniffing the air which he caught Luffy's scent. "But his scent was right now faint."

Nami then look closer at the ground which she's too close toward the cliff and the rocks were loose.

"The rocks sure are loosened." Nami said, cautiously look down.

"Nami, be careful." Zoro warned her.

"Right." Nami said as she then turned to the Dragoon. "Hey Ventus, do you think you can fly in the air and find Luffy?"

Ventus gave her a nod as he then sprouts his dragon wings and take flight. Carrot, Pepper, and Onion were amazed of his wings as he began to circle around at the shore. He manage to find Luffy as he spoke.

"Nami, I found Luffy." Ventus shouts. "Look down."

With that, Nami then looks down at the shore on her right, found Luffy on the ground which left her shocked.

"He's right, look down there." Nami told them as Zoro, Carrot, Pepper, and Onion look down.

"Luffy!" Zoro exclaimed.

"Whoa." Onion said with shock.

"Hey it's that straw hat guy." Pepper said with a smile.

"And his butt." Carrot added.

Ventus then began to carry them down to the ground one-by-one which it's easier than climb down. When Ventus landed, his dragon wings then disappeared while he joins with them and head towards Luffy.

"Luffy, what did you do? How did this happen?" Nami questions with a gasp, react with horror.

"He fell." Carrot answered her question.

"He's a goner!" Onion added.

"So that's why our Captain looks so upset." Pepper stated.

However, they heard him snoring which he's just sleeping the entire time.

"Hmm, wait a minute." Zoro said with his serious expression, listening to him snoring as he then chuckled. "Lazy bum."

He then use his katana scabbard to tap Luffy's butt, causing the rubber Captain to rise his head which really scared the three boys and Nami as he then yawns.

"Good morning guys." Luffy said with his carefree smile.

Meanwhile at the mansion, Usopp managed to get away from the angry villagers since he's pretty face as he then takes a breather since he's worn out. He then pull the bush block out of the bushes as he then slid through while head to where Kaya was at. She was still in her room, reading a book, but she heard a sound at window as she then turned her head. She opens the window which happens to be Usopp throwing the pebble while standing at the top of the tree branch.

"Oh good. I was worried you wouldn't come back." Kaya said with relief, but noticed something's wrong with Usopp as her expression turned to worry. Usopp then took step towards her by placing his foot at the wooden frame.

"Quick run Kaya! They're gonna kill you!" Usopp warned her with his serious look.

"Someone's going to kill me?" Kaya asks with confusion.

"He's tricked the entire village! Klahadore's really a deadly pirate captain!?" Usopp exclaimed, leaving Kaya shocked of hearing that the butler was a pirate.

"Is this a story?" Kaya questions with her hurtful expression. "Well I don't like this one."

"This isn't one of my stories, it's the truth. I heard with my own ears." Usopp told her, tried to convince her. "Klahadore is a pirate captain who weaseled his way to your families home so he can steal your fortune. He's pretending to be your butler for three years so he can kill you and inherit your money."

Kaya wasn't convinced about his story since she was still thinking that Usopp was lying as she spoke.

"What are you talking about, Usopp?" Kaya questions skeptically.

"His crew is gonna raid the village at dawn and in the process, you're gonna get killed." Usopp answered seriously.

Kaya was now feeling hurt since Usopp told her about Klahadore being a pirate captain and tried to kill her, but she just couldn't believe him as Usopp continues to speak.

"Klahadore's a very bad man! You're life is in danger! You have to escape!" Usopp warned her as she then look at him.

"He did treat you harshly earlier and I understand that you're hurt." Kaya said. "But lying like this, it's not like you."

That got Usopp hurt since the villagers didn't believe him and neither did Kaya which they all know that he's a liar, but he was actually told them the truth and no one believes him.

"Kaya please, I'm telling you the truth." Usopp pleads truthfully. "I'm telling you the truth. Please believe me!"

Meanwhile at the shore, it didn't take long for Luffy to talk which he didn't even hesitate what he and Usopp had stumbled upon when they'd been at the top of the cliff. He told them that Klahadore was actually Kuro, the pirate captain from the East Blue that they were currently, but fake his own death be sending one of his crew take his place by impersonate as Kuro before becoming a butler for three years for the sole purpose of inheriting Kaya's family fortune.

He also told them that Kuro's will come to the village and kill the villagers by daybreak.

"WHAT!? PIRATES ARE GOING TO ATTACK THE VILLAGE!? THEN THEY'RE GONNA KILL KAYA!?" Carrot, Pepper, and Onion said in unison with shock.

"Yep, that's what they said. No question about it." Luffy answered simply, placing his straw hat in his head, leaving the three boys shocked with horror. Zoro then walk towards him with a scowl.

"So, what makes you think it would be a good time for a nap?" Zoro questions the rubber captain.

"That's the thing, I don't remember going to sleep or getting down here at all." Luffy said with his big grin.

Of course, Zoro and Ventus wasn't convinced of his answer as they then began to have some serious conversation while the three boys huddled together.

"And this proves it, Klahadore's a bad guy." Carrot said seriously.

"Usopp's saw right through him." Pepper added.

"I bet he's on his way to warn the villagers so they'll have time to run away." Onion stated.

"Well that's perfect, those stupid pirates won't hurt anyone because the town will be abandoned by the time they get there." Nami said with a smile, happy to hear that none of the villagers will get killed before the raid.

"Yeah, that's right! We'd better run away too if we want to live!" Carrot exclaimed.

"Alright let's pack our treasure and run like the wind!" Pepper, Carrot, and Onion said in unison as they then dashed off.

"Oh no!" Luffy exclaimed with realization, gained everyone's attention. "We need to stock up before the Meat Shop guy leaves!"

Zoro then hit Luffy in the back of the head with his scabbard.

"Come on, that's not really the issue at hand here." Zoro growled with annoyance.

"We should find out what Usopp was planning." Ventus stated earned their attention when they notice the young Dragoon pondering over. "As far as I know from that look on Usopp's face, it wasn't that of someone who would cower and run away nor would let the pirates invade the village. This village is his home and he'd do anything to defend it."

"The kid's right." Zoro nods, smirking. "He may be a liar, but he has honor."

"So, what are we planning to do?" Nami questions, fearing the answer.

"That's easy." Luffy said with a grin.

Few hours later, the four have finished on what to decide on what to do since it's already sundown and almost nighttime when they found Usopp with Carrot, Pepper, and Onion. At first, Usopp was feeling hurt and devastated since the villagers was after him and Kaya didn't even believe anything of what he told her which she's now hurt. And for what's worse, the villagers and the butler thought that he kidnapped Kaya which he was trying to save her life from the hands of the pirates, but she refused to leave and the butler shot him in the arm which it's grazed.

Usopp was walking on the hill with his teary eyes while covering his arm, felt hurt that the villagers won't even budge or being convinced of him telling the truth.

"Captain!" Carrot, Pepper, and Onion called him in unison.

Usopp knew who called them as he covered his wounded arm since the three didn't notice, but Ventus and Zoro sure picked up on it when the Dragoon picked up the scent of blood.

"Hey, how's it going guys?" Usopp asks, turned his expression to smile.

Carrot, Pepper, and Onion greets them happily as Luffy then spoke with a smile.

"Hey!" Luffy greets, leaving Usopp shocked to find out that the rubber captain was alive as he then rush towards him.

"Wait, you're alive again!?" Usopp exclaims.

"Alive?" Luffy repeats with confusion. "Yeah and I had a pretty good nap."

"He was sleeping the whole time." Pepper told him.

"Captain, we heard all about those pirates and their evil plan." Carrot stated.

"We better hurry and warn the people in the village so they have time to get away." Onion added seriously.

Usopp then remembered everything he has been through since trying to warn the villagers that pirates were really coming by daybreak which it didn't end well because he's been chased, getting shot, and for the worse case scenario is, Kaya refuse to go with him and how she reacts to him which it's really hurtful and heartbreaking. He then look down to the ground, covering his eyes before he then burst out laughing, surprising the three boys but the other four knew what he's up to.

"Well obviously, I'm lying like usual!" Usopp stated, continues to laugh. "That butler made me so mad with what he said. I thought I'd get him back and say that he was a pirate."

He continues to laugh while the three boys joins him, but it was obviously a lie and it's not funny.

"Oh I get it, you put that straw hat guy up to it too!" Pepper said with a laugh as he, Carrot, and Onion started walking past him, leaving him surprised as he turned to them.

"Hey, where are you going?" Usopp questions.

"Honestly, you've really disappointed me." Carrot answered with his disappointed tone.

"Yeah." Pepper agrees with a frown.

"Even that butler guy is a jerk, I thought you were better than lying to hurt someone and I admired you for being such a kind-hearted person." Onion told him with a frown, leaving Usopp and the two boys nodded with an agreement.

"And to think we respect you this entire time." Pepper said as he, Carrot, and Onion then walked away, heading home.

Ventus marred a frown on his face since he knows that Usopp done it for a reason, it's to protect the three children from the truth which it's clear that it didn't have the effect that Usopp had been hoping for. It comes to the point that lying will only brings trouble and karma will come and bite him.

"Come on, we should have that arm looked at." Ventus stated, causing Usopp to snap out of his daze.

Later that night, Luffy and the others head back at the shore in silence. Nami brings some medical supplies to patch Usopp as they sat down on those rocks and she began to work his arm. Ventus watched her applied the treatment to Usopp's wound which it only grazed his arm which that didn't stop him whine like a big baby since Nami kept telling him to quit whining. Ventus took a seat at the rock information beside Zoro while Luffy continued to watch Nami treat Usopp.

"There, all done." Nami stated when she finished bandaging it, getting a sigh with relief.

"So, how come you lied to them?" Luffy questions.

"Because all I do is lie." Usopp told him, sighing. "There's no way anybody was going to believe what I have to say. Why should they?"

"Because what you were telling them was the honest truth." Zoro told him with a huff.

"This is just like an old tale 'A Boy Who Cried Wolf'." Ventus stated, earned their attention.

"Huh? What boy? What wolf?" Luffy asked curiously.

"It's an old tale, but it's also an important lesson. If you keep telling the same lies over and over, it comes to the point that people will stop believing of what you had to say." Ventus explains as Usopp lowered his head with shame. "Nobody believes a liar, even when he's telling truth."

Usopp knew that he's right about him being a liar which that's all he can do was lie.

"They are coming and they'll gonna level this whole town?" Nami questions.

"Yeah, but what am I suppose to do? They'll think I'm lying if I tried to warn them." Usopp pointed out. "Everyone in the village thinks that tomorrow is just going to be a normal day."

Usopp then looked down with his eyes closed, felt guilty for what he did.

"They think I'm lying and that's all they need to think. I'm gonna stop those pirates at the beach tomorrow myself!" Usopp exclaimed with his serious expression, but began to shed tears in his eyes. "This is all my fault for being such a liar! I don't care anymore if they drive me away with brooms or shoot me in the arm. This is my village, it's my home, and I love everyone in it. I have to protect them!"

"You're a hell of a good guy sending your cronies away and going into battle alone." Zoro said with a grinned, placed his hand on his katanas.

"Just so you know, I have dibs on all the pirate treasures, you got it?" Nami said, making one condition.

"So you want a little help or what?" Luffy questioned with his serious expression on his face.

Ventus then stood up as he nods with an agreement, knowing that look on Usopp's face. He knew that the liar isn't going to run away from this. Usopp sobbed loudly as he look at the four who were willing to stand beside him.

"You guys...You're going to help me fight all these pirates? I don't get it." Usopp said with confusion.

"Well, you said there's a bunch of bad guys, right?" Luffy questioned.

"And you look scared out of your mind." Zoro added.

"For you information, I have nerves of steel, I'm perfectly okay with tons of bad guys. After all, you're looking at the legendary Captain Usopp, brave warrior of the high seas." Usopp shouts with prideful smile, but they knew that he's lying and his legs are shaking which he's scared. "Alright fine I'm scared! Why shouldn't I be?! There Captain Kuro's men, these guys mean business! I don't need pity! If you guys are sticking around because you pity me, just leave, I don't need you laughing at me!"

"We're not laughing at you. We're helping because you are honorable." Zoro told him seriously.

"You think we'd really risk our lives out of pity?" Luffy questioned seriously.

"This won't be like any of your games. Because five against many, I am prepared for this upcoming fight." Ventus said with his serious tone, carried his lance.

"Wait, five? You're going to fight too?" Usopp asks, getting a nod from him. "But you're just a kid! Why would you want to fight those pirates?"

"Because these pirates were planning to invade the village and I'm willing to fight them." Ventus told him.

"Don't let his age fool you, because he's deadly with his lance." Zoro added with a smirk.

"Besides, he'll be fine." Luffy assured him with a big grin.

Usopp was shocked of hearing that Ventus would be willing to fight which he didn't him and Zoro spar each other few hours ago, but he might see what Ventus can do whenever the pirates arrives by daybreak.

That's it for the 10th chapter. Sorry about the delay, just lost track of doing the chapters on the different story and I have to do some paperwork which it's a giant pain in the ass.