Another One Piece 300 entry, with the prompt "Repercussions".

Enjoy!

A Marine officer snapped to attention in front of his superior's desk, bearing important news on this momentous day. "Sir, the Pirate King's ship has been spotted on a straight course for Marineford, estimated to reach within the hour!"

Sunlight glinted off thick glasses as the figure rose from his seat. "So you've come, Straw Hat!"

A tall man, followed by his trusted right-hand man, stepped up onto the raised platform. His eyes scanned the rows of Marines standing to attention on the plateau below, before fixing in the horizon where a silhouette of a ship could be seen. The faintest murmur of conversation could be heard as the men quietly discussed the

Whispers erupted into a frenzy when the Thousand Sunny sailed right into the bay, seemingly nonchalant about strolling right into the heart of enemy territory.

A red-clothed figure stood upon the lion-shaped figurehead, and visual Den Den Mushi hurriedly focused on the man known as the Pirate King.

He sucked in a huge breath to yell.

"COBBBYYYYY! CONGRATULATIONS!"

Helmeppo chuckled. "He hasn't changed a bit, has he?" he murmured quietly.

A faint twitch at the corner of his mouth indicated that Coby had heard. "And I hope he never will," he whispered back before stepping forward, Den Den Mushi in hand.

"Straw Hat! By my new authority as Fleet Admiral, you're under arrest! Do you yield!?"

"NO WAY!" The responding cry was punctuated eloquently by a stuck-out tongue. And with that parting note, the ship blasted off before any Marines could reach it. "GOOD LUCK, COBY!" was heard over the rushing wind.

He faintly heard Helmeppo laugh and choke out something like "Never changes."

The old him would have kept his words in his heart. But as the ship soared overhead, Coby dropped his transmission device to shout back. "THANK YOU, LUFFY-SAN!"

He owed his life to this man, but even so the next time they met he wouldn't pull his punches. No, perhaps it should be said that precisely because of this life-debt, he would always go all out every time. Anything less would be an insult. And so in their next fight as Fleet Admiral and Pirate King, he would show Luffy how strong he had become.

Such was the promise from one man to another.

Zoro shared a grin with his captain. "You've really created a formidable enemy, Luffy."

"Shishishishi. I wouldn't have it any other way."