The Daughter of the King (English)

Chapter 14 - Penal labor

A little note before we get started!

You remember that I let you vote on which outfit Luffy should wear for this arc. Unfortunately, a small problem has arisen in this regard and the outfit no longer exists on the site. So don't be surprised if you see a different one here. I tried to find an outfit that was as similar as possible and I just hope it doesn't disappear otherwise...at least I wrote the description well enough that my picture needs it.

That's it and I hope you enjoy the new chapter.

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The Going Merry plowed gently through the waveswhile her crew went about their own business. Zoro was dozing on the deck, Namiwas sitting on a barrel and studying some nautical maps, Luffy had found alarge piece of black fabric and a few pots of paint below deck and had happilystarted painting on them. She was finally able to turn the ship into a realpirate ship. And Usopp stood at the front of the bow, one foot placed on therailing, a stick tucked into the side of his cloth and staring fixedly at thesea. At least he would if he wasn't standing directly in front of thefigurehead. Suddenly he pulled out the stick, turned around and said with asmile: "You still dare to attack the Going Merry, knowing that it is ledby the great Captain Usopp?!" He jumped down onto the deck and swung thestick like a Sword. "An incredible battle ensued!" His enthusiasm waned as henoticed that the others were not paying attention to him. He had never imagineda life as a warrior of the seas to be so peaceful. "Hey, can't you pay alittle attention to other people?" "It's ready!" Luffy calledhappily from behind him, standing up and looking at the fabric in her handswith satisfaction. Grinning broadly, she stood in front of the three and showedthem her work. On the black fabric was a misshapen skull and crossbones,wearing what vaguely resembled a straw hat with a red hatband. "Look, that'sour pirate flag! After Usopp joined us, there are now four of us. That's why wefinally need our own symbol." The swordsman, the thief and the lying baronlooked at their work speechless. Zoro was the first to speak: "Thisis...our symbol?" He couldn't quite believe what he saw. It looked like adrawing of a small child's. "What do you think? Great, right?" Thegreen-haired man had his arms crossed over his chest, Nami held her chinthoughtfully and Usopp simply seemed speechless. The black-haired woman knewthat she wasn't a great artist. That her works looked like the pictures she hadpainted as a child. But until now, no one had ever responded to her work theway her friends did. Was that because they didn't know her "talent" yet? "Apirate flag is supposed to spread fear and terror," said Zorro. "I feelthe terror, but it comes more from your talent," Nami said bluntly. Thisopen honesty somehow reminded Luffy of Ace when she had drawn him a picturewhen he was 11. Long story short: she didn't speak to him for three daysafterwards. Usopp had a smug smile on his face and moved his raised finger,which got the others' attention. "You should have discussed it with me first.How could you forget THIS brilliant painter?" "Brilliantpainter?" Luffy asked confused. Now Usopp pointed his thumb at himself ashe said, "I have 50 years of experience painting walls. When it comes topainting, no one can do it better than me." He proudly stuck his nose inthe air when he heard Luffy's enthusiastic exclamation: "Incredible, 50years!" "That would mean you were an old man!" , Zoro broughtthe black-haired man down from his high horse. "Maybe he already has five orsix grandchildren," Nami added with a nasty smile. "That's even moreimpressive!" Usopp had the feeling that Nami was just making fun of him,while Luffy seemed to take it for granted. However, before she could trulybelieve this, he intervened. "Hey! That's not true at all!" He quickly wentinto the storeroom, got another piece of cloth and took one of the brushes outof the bucket. "Now I'll show you what a real pirate flag should look like!"

It didn't take long for Usopp to finish. "Nowlook at this masterpiece!" he said, showing it to them. The picture lookedreally impressive. However, it depicted a skull with a long nose wearing a kindof brown bandana on a slingshot. A star had also been painted next to the nose.The captain and her first mate stood next to the proud painter, so that hestood between them, and looked at the flag. They exchanged a brief look beforethe straw hat wearer, to his left, asked: "Who told you to paint your ownflag?" In synchrony, she and Zoro swung their fists and hit Usopp lightlyin the head.