The universe sat in layers, Dende knew, much like the earth's soil formed in distinct sheets beneath the surface. Gohan had told him as much during his last visit.
To Dende, it was all fascinating. The Earth was marked by massive and catastrophic events so deeply imbedded in its past that the striations in the ground reeked of them. The Earth had many stripes and many scars while the Namek that Dende had known bore exactly one.
The only real catastrophe that ever befell the idyllic green planet was the great drought that happened before Dende had even been a tiny speck on the horizon of history. It was because of the wishing orbs- the Dragon Balls. His people had used them to quell the events that threatened their planet and smooth over all wars and disease that disturbed their quiet existence.
Namek had been so green, so smooth, and so calm. New Namek was even more so. It was like a newborn child, untouched by age or hardship.
Dende's people would see to it that their new planet remained innocent. The Namekians themselves were very much of one heart and one mind, and each new hatchling was just another variation on a theme of peace. Dende was, too- he was connected to them and could sense their collective heartbeat even now, much like he was a part of this planet and could always feel the energy of its Dragon.
The Dragon. The people of Earth had used Shenlong selfishly when Kami had been the planet's Guardian, and Dende supposed that such a malicious mentality explained why the universe even needed a hell to sit above the realm of mortals.
Dende looked up to acknowledge the higher plane, but there was no way to see it through the blue expanse of the Earth's sky.
Sometimes, he wondered if he had made the correct decision to come be a part of this planet and live so far from his home and brethren.
A light breeze carried a distinct energy signature to Dende as if to remind him why he believed in the Earth. The feeling grew stronger with each passing second. He put down his staff and dashed inside to boil water for tea. "Mister Popo," he called, locating the kettle, "would you be so kind as to inform me when this is ready to pour?"
The genie appeared in the doorway to the little kitchen and laughed. "I will be more than happy finish making the tea and bring it to you, if you like."
Dende smiled. "I would appreciate that very much."
Popo scooted past the little Guardian and escorted him to the doorway with a gentle push. "Go play," he said, and conjured up a tray from thin air.
Gohan had already arrived by the time Dende made it back outside the Lookout's pavilion. He stood in the center of the tiled floor and held Dende's abandoned staff in his hand. "Oh!" Gohan lifted it up to his friend in greeting. "I thought something was wrong when I found your staff on the ground. Hello, Dende!"
The Guardian blinked when he realized how unceremoniously he had dumped Kami's old keepsake in his rush. He reached out and took the staff from Gohan. "No, I just knew you were coming and realized I should make you some tea before you made it up here," he said, smiling sheepishly.
"Tea?" Gohan said. "You didn't have to do that. Mom will want me home in time for dinner, anyway, so I can't stay that long. I came to drop off that book I had told you about last time." He pulled a hardcover history textbook out from the bag slung over his shoulder. "It's pretty dry, but it will tell you everything you want to know about the world events of this half of the continent."
"Oh, thank you," Dende said, tucking it under his arm. "Can you not stay for even a little while?"
Gohan frowned. "Well, technically, there is no time that I have to be back because I did not tell my mom I was coming here. So, no, she never actually gave me a curfew or anything, I just know she'll want me safe at home to do my studies," he finished, raising his voice in a crude but loving imitation of Chi Chi.
Dende's face fell. "Well, I suppose there is always next time." The Guardian wished he could think of some other way to entice his friend to stay. Gohan's visits, while not entirely infrequent, were becoming shorter and shorter.
Mister Popo emerged from the pavilion as if by magic with a tray for tea in one hand and a plate heaping with sandwiches and cookies in the other. Piccolo appeared from behind the genie with two more plates, one full of small cakes and the other of ham and cheese rolls, and approached the two children.
"I don't understand the fascination with dainty foods to have with tea," Piccolo muttered. "In fact, I barely understand the appeal of this at all."
Mister Popo smiled wider and knowingly. "The tea is ready. We will set it on the table by the butterfly garden for whenever you want it," he said airily.
Piccolo nodded at Gohan and followed Mister Popo. The boy was too busy eyeing the food to have a good laugh at his stoic mentor playing waiter with petit fours.
Dende could have kissed Mister Popo and Piccolo both. Instead, he turned back to Gohan. "Are you sure you don't want to stay for tea?" He fished.
Gohan kept one eye trained on the food. "I don't think it would hurt to stay for a little while," he reasoned.
Dende took his friend by the hand and led him to the table.
The universe was layered. Namek and the Earth both existed near the bottom, where all mortals dwell, and looked at each other from opposite ends of their shared slice of the cosmos. They never should have had any reason to know of one another's existence.
Of all the twists of fate the gods had bestowed upon him and his world, the privilege of knowing Gohan of Earth was the one Dende the Namekian was most grateful for.
OOOOOOOOOO
Goten was forming his first full sentence beyond "No" and "I'm hungry." Chi Chi sat next to his high chair in anticipation.
"Goha da?" He chirped, kicking his feet and looking at his mother.
"Gohan?" She cooed. "What about Gohan?"
"I'i Goha da?" Goten tried again, patiently.
Chi Chi shook her head. "I don't know what you want to tell me about your brother. But you are such a big boy! Yes you are!"
"Is Goha dada?"
Chi Chi stopped smiling.
OOOOOOOOOO
Mister Popo had served every Guardian the Earth had the blessed fortune to host. He had seen every century and worthy hero come and go, and held all of that history behind a placid face.
Piccolo had an idea of what the genie had thought of Goku because of Kami's memories, but he had no clue what Mister Popo was thinking whenever Gohan came to summit the Lookout, or why he smiled softer whenever he saw the boy with Dende.
In fact, whenever he thought about Mister Popo, Piccolo could feel how young he really was in the grand scheme of things and how little he truly understood. The two children in front of him were barely younger.
He would protect Gohan and Dende forever, if he could, but he knew that his influence could only do so much for them.
The Nameless Namek watched as Gohan, the child who had surpassed Piccolo, laughed with Dende, the hatchling who had outlived Nail and replaced Kami, and felt very small.
OOOOOOOOOO
Gohan returned home to Chi Chi. She had Goten in her arms and was rocking him back and forth in the living room. She did not even bother to scold her eldest for his absence, and Gohan made the wise decision to not look a gift horse in the mouth.
Instead, he laid a package full of Dende's leftover cakes on the table for his mother and his brother to share later. "I will make dinner," he volunteered, and left Chi Chi alone while he sautéed vegetables and thought about what it meant to see the world from above and beyond the confines of a history book.