Chapter 2 Transformation for Relocation

These past two weeks with Robin if it had to be described in one word, I would say awkward. Which is to be expected, after all you can't just expect things to go smoothly when two strangers suddenly start living together. Not only that, said stranger is using a fake name and is currently carrying your child. However, it hasn't been bad because Robin, currently going by the name Raven, has been acting like a sweet housewife after a honeymoon.

'Raven' spends most of her day at the house reading and drinking tea. Although we don't talk often, the companionable silence is pretty comforting. In the meantime I've been mulling over what I should do with my life since I gave up my playboy lifestyle. I know for starters I don't want to keep calling her 'Raven', so my only option is to confront her about her identity. I've never been particularly gentle with my approach and planning, but I'm pretty confident in my damage control capabilities.

So taking a bounty poster with the picture of a small child in it I made my way to where 'Raven' was peacefully reading. She saw me coming from the corner of her eye, and when she saw the wanted poster in my hand she got visibly tense. "Oh, you don't often come to see me my beloved, what brings you to see your neglected wife?"

Ugh! Even though she's sweet most of the time she has this tendency to hit me with venomous words. "I want to have a serious conversation with you… You're Nico Robin with a bounty of 79 million berries, right?"

There was a sadness in the way she looked at me that directly tore my heart. Of course I know her life story, someone who's been on the run ever since she was a child after watching her home unjustly destroyed. To survive she has had to use many cruel methods and has hardly experienced what happiness is.

She put her book down and looked at me with a sad expression. "So you've found out already? Even though you act like a loafer, you're surprisingly sharp. I just hope that you can let me quietly leave, if not for my sake but for your child's"

When I woke up today I didn't expect to do what I'm about to do right now. But I'm someone who follows his whims and tries to do the least amount of work, and I'm sure about my next decision. "Nico Robin, let's get married for real. I don't care about your bounty or if you're really a terrible criminal as people say. I want to protect you and our child and give them a real family. Will you believe in me and take this leap of faith?"

Robin looked at me in shock, and suddenly a sweet smile curled up from her lips. "Eli, are you sure you want to do this? We'll never be able to live a normal life, and the whole world will be against us. You won't be able to laze around like before. After knowing all this, do you still want to marry me?"

I gave her my most confident and reassuring smile. "Even with the whole world against us, I'll never regret this moment. I know we barely know each other, but we can just understand each other along the way. So, what's your answer?"

For the first time since she's moved in she gave me her first most genuinely happy smile. "Yes, even though my new husband is a loafer and a former playboy I'll be your dutiful wife."

"Haha for a dutiful wife your words are so venomous, will I really be okay with such a black-bellied wife? Anyways, I know we can't really have an official ceremony because of your identity. I hope you'll be okay with this ring. From now on you'll be Mrs. Kenneth." I made my way to her before kneeling down on one knee and taking her left hand. I gently placed an ornate gold ring on her ring finger. I put my next to her and showed her the matching ring on my hand. "Do you like it?"

She began to cry when she saw our hands side by side with matching rings, but she still showed me her beautiful smile. "I love it Eli. You came with these prepared, you're such a manipulative person."

"Haha, well it was a spur of the moment thing. I wanted to show you that I wasn't just making empty promises to stay by your side. Now, let's talk about the future. Staying on Mansdosa Island isn't wise, we'll be closer to the Marine headquarters so let's move to the East Blue for the meantime. It's the safest of the Four Blues."

Giving me a curious look she nods in acceptance. "That's fine with me, but how are we going to get there? The only way is through the calm belt and that's incredibly dangerous. Are we already trying the 'until life do us part' wedding vow?"

"No, no. We're not going to go by sea, I'll take the both of us and fly to the East Blue. For now let's pack everything we can bring inside this large bag."

After our shotgun wedding ceremony was over Robin gave me a small peck on the cheek, a little tame considering we already did the deed, but everything will happen with time. We began packing our things to leave the island. This only included some books, clothes, and all my wealth which is currently 100 million berries. Afterwards I carried it as we made our way to an isolated plateau in the forest.

Currently I'm wearing a white pinstripe suit with one button on the middle and matching white pants. A black dress shirt underneath leaving my chest exposed, and a pair of black dress shoes. Lastly, a pair of tight black leather gloves on my hands which I use when I fight. Next to me Robin is wearing her hair in a tight bun, with a purple knitted sweater, tight blue jeans and a pair of knee length boots.

Looking around at the surroundings Robin turns to me with a puzzled look in her eyes. "Taking me to a secluded place in the forest, are you planning to commit Uxoricide not even a day into our marriage?"

"Ha ha very funny. No, I brought you here because I don't want people to see me use my real power. As far as people know I'm just some small-time bounty hunter on this island who lazes around all day. Just hop on my back and hold on tight." I kneeled down so she could get on easier.

As she piggybacked behind me and wrapped her slender arms around my neck and couldn't help but express her doubts. "You're leaving your home island for me, is there nobody here that you want to say goodbye to? Is this really okay with you?"

"You know, my parents abandoned me on this island. Soon after a nice old couple took me in and raised me. Unfortunately they already died of old age, so I don't really have any attachments left on this island. Now it's me and you, wherever we go will be our home."

Robin didn't say anything else and just snuggled closer to me with a slight blush on her cheeks. "Hold on tight, I haven't taken someone with me like this before."

As she tightened her grip around me she also crossed her legs around my waist. Trying not to get distracted by my wife's body squishing around me I began to partially transform my arms and legs. They burst out in brilliant aqua blue and yellow flames. My arms changed into two pairs of wings with a pair of three golden talons tucked on the top wings. My legs transformed into flaming feathers with golden x-shaped feet.

Robin, who was behind me, couldn't hide her surprise when her figure suddenly tightened around me. "These flames are like feathers, they're warm but they don't burn. Just what kind of devil fruit did you eat?"

"I ate a never seen before devil fruit, and now I'm filled with the power of the Emperor Phoenix. A species of phoenix that stands above a regular one, my flames will only harm those I want to. Now get ready, things are going to get windy."

I grabbed our luggage in one of my talons before launching myself into the air with the other. Before taking off into the direction of the East Blue with a powerful flap of my wings. Throughout this experience Robin kept her eyes closed, avoiding the burden of my sudden acceleration.

After reaching a cruising speed I spoke up, "You can open your eyes now, you're missing out on a beautiful scenery"

Hearing my go ahead she began to open her eyes before getting accustomed to the speed. Her eyes couldn't help but sparkle in wonder seeing the vast blue ocean and the islands scattered across it. "It's beautiful…"

"There's so much in store for us in the future Robin. Even if we're chased I'll fly us out of harm's way as many times as it takes. If there's no place for us in the future I'll just make one." She didn't respond but I could feel she was happy when she hugged me closer.

After thirteen hours of flight, the sky has long since turned to night. We made it to the East Blue some time ago. I started to get tired after flying for so long so I stopped on an island archipelago somewhere in the northwestern region. I'm not entirely sure where we landed but, this will be our new home for a while. With Robin silently sleeping behind me I began to make my way towards civilization, hopefully I'll find an inn or something…