They made their way back on the croco-shark, talking constantly. Robin told King what she'd read in Ohara about Mary Geoise, and King told Robin about his childhood, and all the customs and traditions he had learned from his parents to pass on to future generations that unfortunately would probably never exist anymore.
"Can't you have children with an ordinary woman?" Robin asked.
"It's been done in the past," King replied, "and most of the mixed children even came out Lunarian, at least having wings or fire, but nowadays it's even more dangerous than in the past." he explained.
"The courting call endangers me, and the woman I choose, and suppose we succeed, what will become of the child? Even under the Beasts Pirates, I never dared bring a child into this world. One tip-off is all it takes to end their life prematurely. You've seen how these agents are practically everywhere."
Robin nodded. "I understand. I too by no means can afford to get pregnant in my situation."
After a few seconds of gloomy silence, King decided to change the subject and started talking about pteranodons, their flying and hunting skills, and then abruptly he said, "Did you know that a male pteranodon is naturally twice as large as the female?"
Robin laughed, "You're three times taller than me. Maybe if I grow another pair of legs under my original ones the height difference between us will work out? Or I can simply duplicate myself at any height that suits you."
King smiled. "But it won't really be you."
"Of course it will," Robin said, "my duplicated organs are just like the original ones. I feel everything. Look what Black Maria did to me on a duplicated hand." Robin showed him the healing cut on her arm.
King kissed her arm gently. "I'm glad you defeated her." he said. "Tell me, how do you create wings?" He changed the subject again.
"Using my hands," Robin replied, "the fingers serve as feathers. Perhaps you have some advice for me on how not to get tired so quickly when I use them?"
"Mmm... when you create them without moving, do you get tired?" asked King.
"A little," replied Robin, "but what makes me the most tired is the waving."
"Obviously." replied King. "Robin, there's a fundamental difference between small birds and large winged creatures. Think of storks, or eagles, they don't wave their wings all the time, do they?"
"Eagles fly in circles..." Robin said, thinking.
"True. Storks too. And Lunarians without a devil fruit. They catch thermals, warm air currents that spiral and rise from the ground, and soar up with them without any movement, to save strength." King explained.
"Once they reach the peak altitude, they leave the thermal and glide in the direction they want, just like going down a slide. Waving is only required to get into the thermal, and to land. Here, see the dust rising and spiraling up over there?"
Robin followed King's pointing with her eyes, then lifted them up and saw a bird moving in circles in the sky above the vortex.
"With a little experience you can easily identify them."
"I don't think I can last that long." said Robin.
"Let's check it out." said King. "Stand here against the wind, and show me your wings."
"Here? On the croco-shark?" Robin stressed out, "I'd fall!"
"No you wouldn't," replied King. "Use them to balance yourself. I'll hold you to keep you from soaring up."
Robin stood with King holding her waist from behind, and created her wings. King gasped, but pulled it together to be able to concentrate and succeed in teaching her.
"Their structure is excellent," he said, "just hold them like that, spread out, without effort. Is that hard for you?"
"Not really..." Robin replied. "Like this, without movement, I can hold for a few minutes."
"Raise them up just a little. Yeah, like that. Feel the lift?"
"Wow, I do!" called Robin, "Are you holding me tight? I feel the wings would lift me up in a second!"
King laughed, "If I let go of you now I'll have to spread my wings myself to bring you back. And you wouldn't allow me to do that until tomorrow, would you?"
King let her rise about half a meter off the croco-shark's back, but never for a moment let go of her waists. After about five minutes, Robin dissolved her wings.
"Wow, that was amazing!" she said.
"Tomorrow I'll help you improve your waving too." said King.
"I can't wait for the lesson." Robin said with a smile and sat down, leaning back on King.
