The Red Force slid into Elbaph's harbor from the Rainbow Bridge like a polished dagger into a weathered scabbard. The scale was staggering. Giant-sized bollards, carved from single trunks of ironwood, stood like sentinels along the docks. Ropes thicker than Marya's entire body secured ships that looked like toys beside the monolithic galleys of Elbaf's native warriors. The air thrummed with deep-voiced shouts, the rhythmic thump-thump-thump of massive hammers on anvils, and the rich, earthy scent of pine tar, smoked fish, and something ancient – like damp stone and deep forest moss.
Perched on the railing, Marya observed it all with her characteristic golden-eyed stillness, Eternal Eclipse resting comfortably across her back. Beside her, Jelly "Giggles" Squish vibrated with barely contained energy, his azure form shimmering like agitated ocean water. "BLOOP! Big people! BIG ropes! BIG... everything!" he squealed, attempting to morph his head into a crude approximation of a giant's bearded face, resulting only in a wobbly blue lump with seaweed dreadlocks.
Shanks, standing at the prow with his signature easy grin, spotted two familiar figures waiting on the sun-bleached dock timbers. He waved a hearty greeting. "Scopper! Saul! Keeping the peace or causing trouble?"
Jaguar D. Saul, his massive frame draped in simple attire, boomed a laugh that echoed off the cliff faces. "Shanks! Trouble finds us often enough without looking!" Beside him, Scopper Gaban, shaggy, lean, in a button-down flower shirt and sharp-eyed behind round sunglasses despite the years, gave a curt nod, a mischievous glint already in his expression. His gaze flickered past Shanks, landing on Marya and Jelly, who were both staring, utterly transfixed, at Saul's towering stature.
Shanks chuckled, noticing their fixation. "Impressive, isn't he? Makes even Mihawk look a bit… compact."
Marya blinked, tearing her gaze from Saul to Shanks. Her voice was calm, analytical. "Are they friends? Or rivals?" She assessed them with the detached scrutiny of a strategist viewing potential assets or obstacles.
"Something like that," Shanks grinned, clapping her lightly on the shoulder. "Come on, niece. Time for introductions." He led the way down the gangplank, Jelly bouncing eagerly behind like an excited rubber ball, leaving faintly glittering footprints.
"Shanks," Scopper greeted, his voice a gravelly rasp. His sharp eyes immediately locked onto Marya, sweeping from her raven hair down to the distinctive obsidian hilt peeking over her shoulder. "Well, I'll be damned. Spitting image of Hawkeyes, isn't she?" He tilted his head, a smirk playing on his lips. "Got the glare down pat too."
Saul leaned down slightly, his kind eyes crinkling. "It is uncanny! The hair, the eyes… even the way she stands. Like a smaller, sharper shadow of the world's greatest swordsman."
Marya met their gazes unflinchingly. When Saul mentioned the glare, a flicker of something passed over her face. She drew herself up slightly, tilted her chin down just so, and let out a perfectly mimicked, disdainful, "Hn."
Saul's booming laugh erupted again, shaking the very planks beneath their feet. "HA! There it is! The Mihawk Special! Uncanny, Shanks, absolutely uncanny!"
Shanks beamed, clearly delighted. "Told you! Marya, Jelly, this is Jaguar D. Saul, formerly of the Marines, now… well, now he's Saul. And this grumpy relic," he gestured to Scopper, "is Scopper Gaban. Old shipmate."
As Shanks spoke, the rest of the Red Hair Pirates began disembarking with practiced ease. Benn Beckman supervised the securing of lines with quiet authority. Lucky Roux immediately sniffed the air, declaring, "Smells like roast boar! Big roast boar!" before lumbering off towards the bustling market stalls lining the upper docks. Yasopp scanned the rooftops with a sniper's instinct. Limejuice and Bonk Punch started hauling crates. Monster and Building Snake stretched massive limbs, eyeing a nearby arm-wrestling contest between two young giants. Gab strummed a cheerful tune on his lute, while Hongo followed Lucky Roux, likely seeking less mercury-tainted provisions.
Scopper watched the crew scatter with a knowing look. He raised his voice, cutting through the harbor din. "Alright, you scallywags! Don't get lost or start a war before sundown! Mato's Tavern! Drinks are on Shanks later!" A chorus of cheers and good-natured jeers answered him.
His attention returned to Marya. He and Saul exchanged a glance. "So," Scopper began, his tone light but probing, "The Red Hair Pirates recruitin' Mihawk's blood now? How's the old hawk feel about that? He know his fledgling's flown the coop to sail with pirates?"
Saul nodded, his expression turning slightly more serious, though still warm. "Aye, it's quite the development. Mihawk always struck me as… possessive."
Shanks waved a dismissive hand. "Nah, she's just catching a ride. Marya's got her own path. Actually," he leaned in conspiratorially, "she's got a specific interest. Scholar's business. Needs access to the Owl Library."
Both Scopper and Saul raised impressive eyebrows in near-perfect unison. "The Owl Library?" Scopper echoed, his gaze sharpening further. "Serious research, then." He looked Marya up and down again, reassessing the young woman with the Mihawk glare and the ancient-looking sword. "Well, since we're heading that way ourselves…" He glanced at Saul, who nodded.
"Be happy to show you the way, little shadow," Saul rumbled kindly. "It's a bit of a walk, but you'll see the best of the lower branches."
As they turned to walk along the colossal docks, weaving between stacks of giant-sized crates and coils of anchor chain thicker than tree trunks, Scopper Gaban fell into step beside Marya. His eyes kept drifting to the distinctive hilt of Eternal Eclipse.
"Fine piece of steel you've got there," he commented casually, his voice deceptively mild. "Obsidian, etched with runes… unusual. Looks heavy. You handle it alright?" There was a playful challenge in his tone, the teasing glint back in his eyes. "Been a while since I crossed blades with someone interesting. Might be fun to see if Mihawk's taught you anything besides scowling."
Marya kept her gaze forward, her expression unreadable. She didn't rise to the bait immediately, observing the bustling giant porters and the intricate carvings on the massive support beams of the dock. When she spoke, her voice was as calm and smooth as glass, but laced with a dry, unexpected barb. "I appreciate the offer, Mr. Gaban. However," she paused slightly, turning her golden eyes to meet his mischievous gaze, "I wouldn't want to risk injuring someone of your… advanced experience. Broken hips are notoriously slow to heal."
For a heartbeat, there was stunned silence. Then, Saul's booming laugh erupted once more, loud enough to startle a flock of seabirds from a nearby rooftop. Shanks threw his head back, roaring with laughter, slapping his knee. Even Scopper Gaban stared at her, momentarily speechless, before a wide, genuine grin split his weathered face. It wasn't offended; it was the grin of a predator recognizing worthy prey.
"Advanced experience?!" Scopper sputtered, still grinning. "Broken hips?! Oh, you've got spirit, girl! Mihawk's blood, alright!" He jabbed a finger playfully in her direction. "Alright, little hawk. Challenge accepted. When this library business is done, you and me. Training grounds. Let's see if that sharp tongue matches your blade work." The glint in his eyes promised a spirited, if good-natured, duel.
Marya simply gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, the ghost of a smirk touching her lips as Jelly bounced excitedly beside her, oblivious to the sword-based tension but thrilled by the laughter. "Bloop! Fight? Can I be the bounce referee?" The walk to the library promised to be far more interesting than a simple stroll through the roots of the world.
As the group began to make their way along the colossal docks, a familiar voice rang out behind them, cutting through the din of the bustling port. "Oi, Shanks! Hold up a moment!"
Shanks turned, his hand absently brushing against Gryphon's hilt, his expression curious. Standing on the edge of the loading bay, near a stack of towering crates, was Ben Beckman, his silver hair catching the sunlight. He waved Shanks back with a calm but insistent motion, a small smirk playing at his lips.
Shanks gave a short laugh, clearly intrigued, and glanced at the group. "You lot go on ahead," he said, his tone light but resolute. "I'll catch up with you later."
Saul gave a knowing nod, his broad grin unwavering. "Don't be too long, though – the young shadow's got places to be."
"Don't worry," Scopper chimed in, his playful smirk returning. "I'll make sure she doesn't lose her way. Not that I'd trust you to navigate, Shanks."
With a wink and a mock salute, Shanks turned on his heel, heading off toward Beckman as Marya, Jelly, Saul, and Scopper resumed their path. Their laughter and conversation mingled with the sounds of the docks as they disappeared deeper into the branches of the Adam Tree.
The rich, loamy scent of ancient wood deepened as they left the cacophony of the docks behind, venturing onto a wide, winding path paved with colossal, moss-edged flagstones. Towering root buttresses of the Adam Tree arched overhead like the ribs of some petrified leviathan, dappling the path in shifting patterns of green-gold light. Saul's deep, rumbling voice filled the space comfortably as he gestured upwards.
"...and see those carvings? Those are Branch Rt 8 markers," Saul explained, pointing to intricate runes etched high on the root wall, depicting stylized trees and winding paths. "They denote safe passages through the upper branch network – shortcuts for messengers and scouts. Craftsman Village, the settlement nestled in that major fork," he pointed towards a distant, bustling cluster of wooden structures built seamlessly into the living wood hundreds of feet above, "handles most of the timber trade from the mid-canopy. They lower the logs down via those pulley systems." He indicated thick vines woven into massive, groaning pulleys disappearing into the green heights.
Marya listened intently, her golden eyes scanning the runes and the distant settlement, filing the information away with scholarly care. Scopper strolled beside her, hands tucked into his pockets, a satisfied smirk still playing on his lips after her 'advanced experience' remark. "Quite the operation," he commented idly. "Makes East Blue ports look like puddles."
Before Marya could form a response, a high-pitched shout echoed down the path ahead, accompanied by the frantic slap of a child's boots on stone. "Papa! Papa!"
Around a massive, lichen-covered root corner, a boy came barreling. He was giant-sized, maybe ten or eleven, looking, with unruly pinkish hair covering an eye and a horned scarlet helmet. His sharp, familiar eyes immediately locked onto Scopper. He was dressed in simple, sturdy clothes, slightly too big, and skidded to a halt directly in front of the group, doubling over, hands on his knees, gasping for breath. Sweat plastered strands of hair to his forehead.
"Colon?" Scopper's smirk vanished, replaced by surprise and a flicker of concern. "What in the seven seas are you doing down here? Shouldn't you be at Blade's math lesson?"
Marya's eyebrow arched slowly, a silent question directed at Scopper. The sharpness of the boy's gaze, the lean build beneath the loose tunic – the resemblance, now she looked, was undeniable.
Scopper caught her expression and grinned, ruffling the panting boy's hair. "Marya, meet the source of most of my grey hairs – my son, Colon. Colon, this is Marya. And the wobbly blue fellow is Jelly."
Colon barely registered the introductions, still gulping air. "Dad!" he wheezed, straightening up with visible effort. His eyes were wide with excitement. "I heard! Down at the smithy! They said Shanks' ship came in! The Red Force! Is he here? Have you seen him? Is he at the docks? Can I see him? Please?" The questions tumbled out in a breathless rush.
Saul chuckled, a deep, warm sound like stones rolling in a gentle stream. "Easy there, young sprout. Breathe!"
Jelly, who had been vibrating silently beside Marya, couldn't contain himself any longer. "BLOOP! Shanks? I know Shanks!" he announced, bouncing forward until he was nose-to-nose with the startled boy. "He's my friend! He gave me a sparkly rock! Well, I think it was a rock. Might have been a hard biscuit. But it was shiny!"
Colon's eyes, already wide, went impossibly round as he stared at the bouncing, talking jellyfish-man. The sheer absurdity momentarily overrode his Shanks-fever. "You... you know him? Uncle Shanks?"
"Bestest bloaty boat friend!" Jelly declared proudly, puffing out his chest (which just made him wobble more). "Want to find him? I can take you! Bloop! Follow the Jelly!"
The transformation was instant. Colon's exhaustion vanished, replaced by pure, unadulterated glee. "YES!" he yelled, grabbing Jelly's surprisingly solid, enlarged gelatinous hand. "Let's go! Now! Before he sails away!"
"BLOOP! ADVENTURE!" Jelly whooped, already bouncing in place, ready to sprint.
Scopper's eyes widened in sudden realization. "Hold on! Colon Gaban, you are supposed to be in Blade's lecture on fractions! Not chasing pirates!" He took a step towards them. "Get back here! Blade will have my hide!"
But the duo was already off. Colon, fueled by adrenaline and the promise of Shanks, dragged Jelly, who bounced enthusiastically alongside, his glittery footprints mingling with the boy's boot prints on the ancient stone. "Find Shanks first, then school!" Colon's voice echoed back faintly.
"Colon! JELLY!" Scopper roared, but it was half-hearted exasperation mixed with paternal duty. He shot a helpless, slightly frantic look at Saul and Marya. "That boy! And that... that squish! They'll cause chaos! Or worse, Blade will find out he skipped!" He started after them, breaking into a jog. "Saul! Get Marya to the library! I'll catch up after I wrangle the gremlin and the gelatin!" His voice faded as he rounded the root corner in pursuit, the sound of Colon's excited shouts and Jelly's "Bloop! This way! No, this way!" drifting back.
Marya and Saul stood alone on the giant path. Marya watched the spot where the whirlwind of boy and jellyfish had vanished, a rare, genuine smirk finally touching her lips. The sheer, nonsensical energy of it was oddly refreshing.
Saul threw back his head and laughed, the sound booming through the root cavern, making dust motes dance in the sunbeams. "Ah, youth! And sentient pudding!" He wiped a tear of mirth from his eye. "Never a dull moment when Shanks is in port, eh?" He looked down at Marya, his kind eyes crinkling. "Well, Miss Mihawk's Shadow, it seems it's just you and me for the rest of the walk. Shall we continue to the Owl Library? I promise it's slightly less... bouncy." He gestured grandly down the path, deeper into the awe-inspiring, ancient embrace of the Adam Tree's branches.