wow this quickly turned into an entirely different au... god im so sorry yall have to deal with such a piece of shit such as myself, i can barely handle school and work but here i am, dumb enough to publish this before completing it.

Anyways, i may be trash but my beta is not! Many thanks to MasterQwertster for sticking with me through all these months! i hope you guys enjoy

Nami spills the various maps and brochures she's collected out on the massive table including a tax book with the expenses scrawled within it. "It's nearing the school holidays and seeing as some of you guys are still in school, plus university has holidays about that time, this is the time we're going. Got that?"

Robin smiles, her and Brook have been tirelessly ironing out the details of the road trip, set for the country. Robin knows from the conversation she had with Brook that the object of his desires is incredibly important, not only to him, but to all of them.

She's the most well-travelled person out of their little group and the only tug, the only whisper of meaning her life has held has been within them. She trusts them wholly, and that has never happened before.

So, when Luffy had announced that they should go on a road-trip, she'd immediately known the person behind the ultimate decision for such a frivolous matter. A road-trip… her lips curl into a smile.

It sounds like a wonderful idea. First, they'll start off on the backroads of Australia until Brook is certain that the object is not here, nor in Tasmania. Next, they'll be shifting to New Zealand and eventually North to Indonesian countries, ending up most likely in Japan.

Robin loves Japan more than any other country she's visited. It's gorgeous, thick with knowledge and nature in almost every aspect of life. It was her job to cover flights and she consulted Franky on whether or not they should just steal caravans over in other countries before he shakes his head.

Thus, the most reasonable approach was to sail instead, leaving their ship docked at port, the next course of action was for Franky to receive an international pass to other countries so that they were able to pass through, unhindered.

Nami was in charge of plotting courses through the countries they were to visit – with Luffy's approval, naturally – and dotted lines criss-crossed through state maps, brochures accumulated in sections with 'little planet' books, leafs protruding outwards.

She also was the treasurer, having declared that if they were to do this, they'd need a fund saved up. Jinbe had offered to half-pay for the trip but was promptly turned down by Luffy, his reasoning being that Jinbe's aquarium needed the money more so.

Robin had already requested leave through the countries. If she found anything interesting, it was to be reported back to the university, but it was more so a sabbatical – not that she was complaining, payed leave was payed leave.

For the other Straw Hats, they'd been packing everybody's wanted belongings into Usopp's white van. "Chopper, why don't we paint the van?" Usopp turns excitedly to the doctor.

"Yes! Yes! Can we?" Chopper says excitedly. "We could paint sakura trees and anything we want!"

Usopp grins widely, "Leave the paint to the great Usopp, we'll surely get some if I ask Franky nicely."

Robin smiles, it is a necessity of a good road trip to have a terribly bright vehicle, especially considering that they'll be trekking around in a van. It's begging to be coloured.

"Do you think Merry will mind?" Chopper asks.

"Nah, not if I ask her first." Usopp says.

And Merry ends up painted in garish, psychedelic colours that remind Robin of 'hippie Kombi' vans from the 80's. She's displeased the trend has returned, but it's amusing to think they'll be travelling in such a vehicle.

Especially because along one side of the van is a sakura tree, petals painted in the same psychedelic colours as the rest of Merry. And to top the vehicle, at the front on the bull bar stands a sheep head, staring proudly at the absolute mess of their body.

"Ah, Nami-swan, may I have the money for grocery shopping?" Sanji asks, dragging Jinbe along with him so that they could carry everything. taking advantage of larger crew members, are we, Sanji? :p

Robin thinks that a week is not much time to properly put together the rest of this road-trip. Sure, it's been about a month since they had decided they were to leave. Sure, Franky has finished the ship they will be sailing, Nami has planned the next years in both geographical and financial terms, Sanji has sketched out a rough meal-schedule for at least a few months, Chopper has a horde of medical supplies at the ready, Usopp was in charge of board games and any other menagerie of supplies he could land his hands on. Zoro, Brook, and Jinbe hadn't had specific roles, but they'd chipped in where they could, and Luffy? He'd gone and stayed with Ace and Sabo for a bit, Robin knows that the separation is not one to be desired.

But, one month? Not a lot of time compared to the months, maybe years they'll end up overseas, in backwater towns they could not relate to their own home. She supposes home is a relative term though. Home is where the soul is and they can all safely say that their soul resonates with Luffy.

So, Jinbe entrusts the aquarium to the few staff hands they have and posts jobs up for teenagers looking for work, causing an influx of workers. It means more money is spent paying for them, but it means the aquarium has some of Franky's Family looking out for it and some teenagers that are instructed to try and clean up the aquarium to make it livelier. Robin chuckles when she hears that, teenagers no doubt despairing over how to make an aquarium livelier.

Usopp puts his combined degree of arts and literature on hold, promising that the hex of debt he'd accumulated at this point would mean he'd come back to it. Eventually. (course, he could look into online classes, maybe)

Zoro lines up as many fights as he can before he leaves, to try and put his name to the world and rake in as much money for their little horde that is promptly turned over to their dragon.

Sanji almost quits his job, except the working chefs had positively begged him, saying that even if they had to wait for a hundred years, it would be worth the wait for his cooking.

Luffy had help from Ace to put his TAFE course on pause for a bit. They'd spent quite the amount of time together and Robin can't help but think it's because of the supressed memories hidden within the mist of this life. After all, when she thinks about Luffy and Ace, an overwhelming sense of dread curls within her stomach while simultaneously, joy dances across her skin. He died, but now he's not dead (anymore)

Nami and Jinbe both apply to get International Competence Certificates so that they're legally allowed to sail in international waters. Nami figures out what they have to do to stay in port at other countries for a small amount of time and Franky uses both his and Iceberg's reputation to ensure that their ship will stay safe.

They haven't decided on a name yet, Thousand Sunny is redundant considering it's the conjoined name of the aquarium and their house. And besides, a ship can never be made the same way twice. Quite frankly, it would be insulting to the half-hidden memory of Sunny.

The ICC will take a month or two to be properly processed but that's okay considering that first they will be travelling around Australia

And just like that, Robin finds herself with her little shoulder bag, staring wistfully at their home. So many memories shared between them all in such a short amount of time. She will easily admit that she's going to miss it, but she's certainly going to enjoy this just as much.

Other countries are fascinating to her archaeologically driven mind and it will be much better now that she's not fearing for her life in every step she takes. And Australia? The indigenous culture is much more interesting than the colonised cities and while she highly doubts that the object they're now actively seeking is in Australia, the road trip will give them a feel for adventure.

Hopping into the now modified Merry, she relaxes in her chair, "Ahoy me hearties." Jinbe says with a put-on accent, he twists from the driver's seat to stare back at the gathered crew, immediately, all activity stops. "As your driver, I'm pleased to inform you that we will be first driving south to Thredbo as popular demand has decreed that we're going to go skiing!"

Woops resonate through the van and Robin grins widely, looking forward greatly to it. Snow is definitely something to be excited by, and it differs from country to country, so, the opportunity to see it is overwhelming.

She's sitting in her own window seat, Brook, Luffy, and Zoro closest to her. Chopper is squished in the window seat next to Franky. Franky and Usopp sit on either side of Sanji as he weeps that he's not near the women of their crew.

Nami and Jinbe have the front seats as the helmsman and navigator. Jinbe is also the most proficient at staying awake for insane periods of time, matched only by either her or Brook, but she doesn't feel like driving just yet. To hold everyone's lives in her hands is a bit disconcerting. Besides, it's not her job for such matters.

Brook refused on the principle that he would make music for them when their mixed cassettes run out. Sure, there's probably a solid month or two stored within their extensive cassette collection. Some hold Brook's own creations with help from Franky to properly record them in the way that he wished.

Nami puts in no. 1 and hits play, as For Whom the Bell Tolls fills the car Nami whips around to glare at Franky, "What? I didn't put this on Nami-sis." He says, putting his large hands out in front of himself.

Secretly, Robin smiles to herself, she doubts that anyone would guess that she loved this song like an anthem, usually she'd go for something more orchestral but… they'll have their fill of orchestral from Brook. because no one ever suspects Robin ;-)

Zoro shifts in his seat. Robin knows he's a fan of the song as well, such as it nears the cusp of punk in its' lyrics.

Nami sighs heavily and Robin watches as she resigns herself to a drive of music outside of her preferences. "I'm bored." Luffy whines, stretching out his limbs.

"Why don't we play I-spy?" Robin suggests, turning to face him.

"Yeah!"

"I'll start!" Sanji snickers. "I spy with my little eye, something that begins with 'm'."

"Fuck you." Zoro says unhesitatingly.

"Why? You don't even know what I had my eye on."

Franky snorts, "What was it then bro?"

"My Robin-chan!" He exclaims immediately.

"Sure, sure." She hears Usopp mutter, earning an elbow to his ribs. "Hey!"

"I'll go!" Luffy says. "I spy with my little eye, something that begins with meat."

"Is it meat?" Usopp asks haltingly.

"How did you guess?" Luffy says with a grin. hahahahaha, oh Luffy dear!

Usopp sighs and Robin laughs.

"Yohoho, but there is no meat…?"

"But there should be…" On cue, Luffy's stomach growls and Robin hears Nami sigh long-sufferingly, reaching into the eski at her feet – the only reason it was there was because she 'didn't trust Luffy not to eat it within the hour' – and procures a bundle of sandwiches.

"Okay, Luffy, you get one of these every hour, understand?" Nami says, turning in her seat so she could glare at him. "For every one you eat, it's a dollar out of your allowance."

"Okay Nami!" He grins blindingly and scarfs down the sandwich. "I'm still hungry…"

"Anyone else want theirs now?" Nami asks, ignoring Luffy for the most part (she's not going to mention that Sanji made at least five for Luffy per hour).

It turns out that everyone bar Jinbe wants one and Nami sighs again, passing them through the van, making sure to avoid Luffy's wandering hands.

They've made it through two cassettes by the time they make their pit stop in a town just a little north of Canberra, Sanji pulls out the larger refrigerator currently filled with ice and withdraws a few packets of sausages.

Normally, Robin knows that he'd be making his own sausages, but, it's a lot quicker and less expensive to just buy home brand sausages and bread. Sanji looks personally offended by the sausages but fires up the barbeque up regardless. poor Sanji, having to use inferior ingredients

Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp rush to the play ground and Robin laughs at the sight of three almost fully grown adults whooping and cheering in excitement at the tall slide. it is fairly easy to forget that they are on the upper end of teenage almost adult when they act so childishly most of the time

Jinbe stretches his legs and languidly follows the trio, claiming that 'someone has to be responsible,' but Robin knows that it's only a matter of time before he gets roped into whatever game they're playing. no one can resist Luffy's pace!

(It is quite amusing to watch them all immediately jump onto different parts of the play ground equipment when Jinbe yells "The floor is lava!") that is adorable!

Nami marks off the amount of time it took them to arrive here and scrolls through a traffic app on her phone, "Should be another 2 hours before we make our second stop in Questacon."

"So we are stopping in Questacon." Zoro confirms.

"Yeah, of course. Prices aren't that expensive and those three pass as sixteen." Nami jerks her thumb at the trio now taking turns on the swing set.

Robin chuckles and replies, "Of course, but you probably could too."

"Oi, oi." Nami hesitates, the prices of her femininity clashing with that of her will to save money. "Fine…"

"Better go get some clothes then Nami-san." Brook says, eyeing her. "And allow me to put your hair in pigtails." because having a magnificent afro means he knows a thing or two about hair care

"No problem, I'm sure you'd fit into some of my more sensible clothes." Robin says, walking around the side of Merry to the back compartment where their luggage resides. "And shoes too…"

"Man this is going to be weird seeing the witch in normal clothes." Zoro snickers, earning himself a kick from Sanji, rushing to his damsel's aid.

"Not another word from you moss-head." Sanji growls.

"I'd keep an eye on your sausages idiot. I doubt you'd want your food tasting even fouler than usual." Zoro growls.

"Is that burning I smell?" Franky asks quietly, causing Sanji to immediately return to his food.

"Oi oi, you shitheads! Lunch is ready." Sanji says finally, placing the sausages in buns. "Nami-swan, Robin-chan, your lunch is served."

Sure, it was store-brand sausages and bread, the salad wasn't and was delicious as always. As were the sausages. Sanji could probably make food out of mud and it would still be delicious Robin muses.

With everyone rested, Nami makes the executive call for them to load back up. The 3rd cassette gets played, except it's a much mellower cassette and Robin watches in amusement as more than half of the van falls asleep, Luffy and Zoro quite cutely lolling against each other. Sanji isn't going to be happy when he awakes, but Robin cherishes Franky and Usopp meeting over the top of the blonde in her mind for many years to come, Chopper curling into Franky's thigh is just the cherry on top.

Brook seems distressed though and quietly, just enough to be heard above the hum of the motor, Robin asks, "Are you alright Brook?"

"Yoho, quite, Robin-san."

She waits, knowing that eventually he'll properly respond to her question. She returns to the book she'd been reading, 'The Colour of Magic' by Terry Pratchett. It takes a bit, but she hears Brook begin to speak and automatically shuts the book, "It's just… we're not getting any closer to the end goal, are we?"

"It doesn't matter." Robin says. "I think I speak for everyone when I say that we've barely begun and yet we're having such a fun time. It doesn't always matter about the destination but rather the journey."

"I suppose so… yoho, thank you, Robin-san." Brook says, lifting his tea cup in acknowledgement.

She simply nods in return and slides her glasses back onto her face.

"Shut up, Brook… none of us would be here if that was the case." Zoro mumbles sleepily, rubbing an eye.

"Yohoho, sorry to wake you, Zoro-san."

Zoro waves his hand dismissively, "Don't start saying things like that around the captain, he'd probably fight you and then Chopper would be upset about injuries or whatever."

Robin doesn't keep track of time, but Jinbe announces that they're here and when she looks outside her window, the day has truly risen upon them. "Wooh! Questacon time!" Luffy exclaims in excitement, almost elbowing Brook in the face in his excitement.

"Yohoho!" Brook seems livelier and whips out his violin from god knows where and begins to play an upbeat tune.

Nami sighs and gestures to Brook for him to do her hair while she changes quietly in the back of the van, "Alright," she sits Luffy, Chopper and Usopp down, "you three are sixteen got it?"

"Whaaat?" Chopper says, "Did I get my birthday wrong?!"

Nami groans and slaps a hand to her forehead. "No, it's cheaper to get in if you're sixteen."

"Ohhh." Luffy slaps a fist on his hand. "Makes sense."

"Thankfully, I don't think it'll take much convincing for you guys…" Nami says.

"What are you wearing Nami?" Usopp says in almost exasperation.

"Hey, we gotta save us much as possible, right? I'm sixteen for the day as well, if anyone refers to me elsewise… they'll be missing a few vital organs by the end of the day." Nami promises, causing the three to lean back in horror.

"I thought Robin was supposed to be the gory one…" Usopp mutters.

They line up, and from the way the majority of them act, it isn't hard for the four of them to come off as sixteen, even Nami joins in their shenanigans 'for the sake of money'. and maybe just a bit of fun :)

The trio of kids rush off in excitement as soon as they get their tickets, rushing through the levels with the same level of finesse as baby lambs.

"How long until they find the giant slide?" Franky asks in amusement.

"I bet five minutes." Nami says, leisurely following.

(Robin knows that they've found it when there's an inhuman shriek of laughter that resonates even to the top tier where she resides.)

Robin finds herself at the stringless harp, hands strumming at random.

It's a nice enough place, clearly built more so for the younger generation, but she's not complaining and it's still entertaining to see science at work.

A few hours later and she finds herself at one of the lower levels, specifically the one with the giant slide. A few go's on that and she eventually finds herself at the final tier, the gift shop. Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp aren't down here yet and she figures that they're still wreaking havoc.

In fact, she's the first one out, and that in itself is hardly a feat, considering that Zoro's probably lost, Sanji will be with Nami, Jinbe probably with the trio of children, Brook probably following after at his own pace. He likes children the most out of them, so it's hardly surprising. Yep, Brook is guy who likes children, given the Rumbar motto of making crying children laugh

Sighing, she exits the complex, sitting down at one of the café tables. She doesn't order anything, they have coffee and tea in the van, but she withdraws her sketching book from her shoulder bag and draws Merry from memory. It doesn't come out as she would like it too, but it passes the time.

Eventually the Straw Hats trickle out, happy and chatting amongst themselves. "We ready?" Jinbe asks as they exit the complex.

"Mhm! Stringtie, here we come!" Luffy grins happily.

"Thredbo…" Nami mutters under her breath, tugging at her hair but not pulling it out of her pigtails.

They load up and by this stage, the day is waning and once more, Robin watches in amusement as the crew slowly fall asleep, finding herself reluctantly falling into sleeps' clutches.

Feeling as if no time has passed, she jerks awake as they hit a pothole on the road. They pass a sign welcoming them to Jindabyne before Jinbe directs them into a national reserve. They might get a fine for staying here overnight, but she hasn't seen a 'no camping' sign yet. if they don't say no then you're free to go ;p

"Are we there yet?" Luffy grins.

The following day, after a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs and cereal, they drive into the Thredbo top station, pausing only to purchase their lift passes.

"Now, we are going to stick together according to skiing ability." Nami instructs.

Luffy barely listens. He's never been skiing but it sounds fun! He gets put with Zoro, Nami, and Brook seeing as they're all beginner skiers.

Thredbo is white, and he hadn't expected to be so hot underneath his ski jacket! The white snow is gorgeous, nothing like he'd ever seen and he scoops some in his hand, giving it an experimental lick. Immediately, his gloveless hands turn numb and he drops the remaining snow, it didn't taste like much anyway.

"Oi! Zoro!" He calls, moulding some snow in his hand.

Zoro turns around and splat! The snow lands right in the middle of his face. Zoro blinks for a few moments before scooping up his own snowball, hurling it back… only for it to hit Brook in the chest. "Yohoho?" because Luffy's head would be level with Brook's chest XD

"Dammit! I was aiming for Luffy…" Zoro mutters and Luffy laughs. Even when throwing things, Zoro manages to lose his way.

Nami calls them idiots affectionately and snaps a photo with her phone before anyone can stop her.

With his skis strapped to his feet and poles in hand, he scoots on over to the small 'carpet' skiing spot. "Listen up! To change direction, lean in the opposite way to go, the quickest way to stop is to twist your knees inwards." Chopper says, demonstrating the position.

Luffy copies him to his best ability before deciding to ascend the carpet to give it a go. Out of the four of them, he and Zoro don't fall over on their first go's. He whoops and goes back on up. The wait is boring but it's a chance to truly appreciate the fine layer covering the trees, making it look like it's Christmas!

A few more goes on the carpet and when Nami manages to stick her landing without falling over, she declares that it's time for the chairlift.

Thankfully it's four per lift and together they hop on, legs becoming tangled as they lift off. "This is sooo slow." Luffy complains. If Franky had been with them, he'd probably try and modify the lift to go faster. It might be nice to get up faster, but the slow speed is so that people can get on and off safely without stopping the lift, Luffy

Eventually they reach the top and together stand, "If any of you run into me your children's great-grandchildren will live to see the debt I impose on you."

Nami's in between Zoro and Luffy, and Luffy zooms down the sudden slope with a laugh, Brook manages to fall over, long limbs tangling in each other. One of the lift attendants rush to help him up so that they don't have to stop the lift for very long.

"I think if we go through the tunnel the slope will be easier?" Brook says as they regroup in front of a line.

"Mhm." Nami agrees.

Luffy pouts, he doesn't want to do the easy one, the steeper one looks like fun! But they're a group, and that means that they ski according to the lowest ability, and if that meant going on the flatter slope… at least it was a slope!

That's how they spend their day, going up the 'easy does it' chairlift and using the flatter slopes, eventually moving onto the steeper one after a hastily constructed lunch that Sanji had provided at Merry.

And on second and last day it snows! They'd agreed to stick together today, one big group that decides to continue to a harder slope. There's a beginners section for it which the four of them religiously stick to, but at the bottom is a little café they regroup in.

"Okay, so, according to the café lady, we can either ski down through that steep as hell gun barrel whatever or catch a chairlift down." Zoro says.

"Ooh, I want to ski down." Franky says, the rest of the crew silently agreeing.

"Might as well…" Nami says.

"Alright!" Luffy pumps his fists in the air. "Time to go!"

It's almost blizzard conditions outside and definitely colder than yesterday, but as a group they ski down the slopes, not once falling over. Luffy feels like he's skied before, not properly, but, it feels less natural to have the skis attached to his feet. down the drums escaping from laphans

The cold doesn't usually bother him either, but the wind combined with the literal snow has him wishing for some warmer clothes.

They reach the bottom of the slope and Luffy stacks his skis up and throws a snowball at Usopp, catching his nose. "Oi, oi! Do you really think you're a match for the great Usopp?!" He asks maniacally, Usopp hurling his own snowball back, hitting him in the nose too.

And just like that, they devolve into an every-man-for-themselves snowball fight, "Watch where you're throwing moss for brains, you almost hit Robin!"

"Shut up, curly-brow!"

"Yohoho! Chopper knows what he's do-" splat!

"Nobody can beat the invincible cyborg! Suuuper~!"

"You're all ridiculous." Nami huffs, still joining in. "Come on Robin, let's make a fort and destroy them."

"I think not." And Robin lands a snowball on Nami who's mouth drops in response.

"Oh. It is on." Nami throws herself into the fray with twice as much vigour as before.

"Wah! That was dirty, Luffy." Chopper exclaims as Luffy shoves some snow into the space between his hood and undergarments.

"I am the king of water, might as well conquer snow!" Jinbe declares, flicking some snow up with his skis. worst snow blast is when someone skis down and performs a sharp bank right before you, throwing up a spray of snow right on top of you

Eventually they tire out and inevitably flop into the soft snow. It's softer now that it's snowed a fresh layer of powder, Luffy realises and happily wriggles around in it for a while. added the powder bit because it can snow heavy wet snow, which isn't soft and nice

They're quiet before Usopp says, "I bet you I can build the best snowman."

Just like that, they're into action once more.