In Search of Oceans

Period 1: A Guardian's Duty to Know.

The journey back to the Lookout is a quiet one; neither Dende nor Piccolo speak, but they were indeed thinking. Is this right? Should we be taking this child away when some other human could care for her? No, my visions can't be a mistake. There has to be a reason why it came to me so vividly.
Dende ponders. Watching the canopies of trees pass beneath them, Piccolo tries to keep a steady flight speed. I just hope you know what you are getting yourself into, Dende. Piccolo wonders. Hoping the young guardian hadn't lost his mind, hopeful that Dende's hunch about the infant's life being valuable is true.
Dende holds the child close to his chest making sure the red hood covers her from the rushing cold air. From the moment they arrived in the alleyway, the baby had become exceptionally quiet, worrying the young guardian. Having been around only Namekian children most of his life, he had no experience or knowledge of human children. Apart from the z fighter's children, he had never actually seen human children.
"Piccolo, why isn't he making any sounds, or moving?" Dende inquires, gently pulling back the hood from over the toddlers face. Its breathing is shallow, its body motionless in his arms. Piccolo looks down from his preoccupation with the sky ahead, watching the child's actions briefly before answering.
"It's sleeping." Piccolo replies, returning his gaze back to the dark horizon ahead.
"Enjoy it while it lasts." he adds irritably. Dende blinks then frowns. His brow ridges wrinkling in surprise at first.
"Oh, of course. I had forgotten that humans require 'sleep' during the night. That's why it's so quite at this time of day." He concludes, looking back down at the earth passing below them. The occasional farm house is dark without any signs of life. Piccolo gives an acknowledging snort.
"Infant humans require many more hours of regeneration than adults," Piccolo informs. Dende turns to Piccolo, an eyebrow ridge raised.
"How do you know that?" He asks. Piccolo knowing about children just didn't make sense.

Piccolo smirks, the light of the moon shining upon them.
"When Gohan was young and I was training him, sleep came only second to eating. " Piccolo responds with the smirk still plastered on his face. Dende nods, looking back to the bundle in his arms as it continued to 'sleep'.
"Would you happen to know how human actually give birth, do they deliver eggs??" Dende asks innocently. Piccolo thinks for a moment then snorts.
"I, I have no idea. But I just can't picture Goku coughing up Gohan. Actually, I don't want to. Chichi must have done it, her mouths big enough" he states. Dende chuckles quietly.
"Well, I can't say I don't agree." Dende concurs. Their geographical range changed from mountains to ocean. Dende looks down toward the enormous expanse of water in its calm and blissful state, seeing the reflection of the moon as it trembled on the surface. Piccolo continues to fly on through the darkness.

Mr. Popo stands on the edge of the white tiled Lookout. Watching the moon as it climbs to its peak. Rubbing his palms over his knuckles, he waits for Piccolo and Dende's return. Knowing only minor details, he is both excited and anxious. Dende had asked him to be waiting and prepared for their return, he did so obligingly.
"Dende, please be safe. Guardians shouldn't venture away from the Lookout," he says to himself. Afraid for the naive guardian, not yet aware of all the dangers he faces on this world. He felt no concern for Piccolo, knowing he was with Dende lifted a huge weight off his chest. He paces along the edge; he looks over the edge just as they appear.
"At last" he utters in relief. His concern was also elevated because their journey took them to an area densely populated by people. Piccolo lands gently on the edge of the Lookout, tenderly placing Dende down on the floor. The young guardian was growing taller, now reaching Piccolo's waist, but by no means is he stronger. Piccolo couldn't help noticing how much the little Namekian had grown from when they had first met him on old Namek, many years before
"Dende, Piccolo I am relieved that you have made it back safely!" Popo exclaims. Dende approaches him. Still uncertain of the correct way to hold the child, he holds her up awkwardly for Popo to see.
"We found it, Mr. Popo. He seems to be in good health, only Piccolo has told me he's sleeping right now," Dende explains in a whisper. Popo glances at the child with enthusiasm.
"Oh Dende, she is beautiful!" Popo exclaims, clamping his hands together and knitting his fingers. Both Piccolo and Dende look at one another, astonished.
"She?" The Namekian's say in union. Mr. Popo looks up at the two confused Namek's with his own confused expression, amused.
"Of course, this child is a girl, a female human. Can you not see it?" Popo turns to Dende, who still holds the infant awkwardly in his arms.

Dende is at a loss for words. Realizing that being the guardian he should know of such things.
"Well ... no, what I mean to say is that… Don't human infants all look the same, how can you possibly know that for sure until it's older?" He asks, feeling both foolish and embarrassed. Piccolo on the other hand simply assumed the child was a boy. Females in his opinion are weak and serve no significant purpose in the Earth's safety. For a guardian to sense that any child had a great significance would have to be someone with great power. But this child does not have power, or significance that he can see. He listens absently as Popo educates Dende on the differences in male and female human infants.
"Well, as you can see, this child has extremely long eye lashes. Also the structure of her face shows a female appearance. It's much softer and gentler that a boy would have." Popo indicates, pointing towards the infant's lashes and rubbing her chin gently.
"Oh I see. What other ways can you tell, Popo?" Dende inquires as they start back for the house to the rear of the lookout. Walking through the corridor of palm trees, Piccolo suddenly stops.

Dende and Popo stop a few paces later, turning to him.
"Aren't you coming, Piccolo?" asks Dende. Piccolo stands where he stopped, his arms crossed firmly against his chest.
"No, I need to leave. If there's anything else you need, you know how to summon me," He states and starts walking back toward the edge of the Lookout. Dende's heart sinks. He had almost forgotten that Piccolo moved away from the Lookout a year or so earlier. Intent on finding the peaceful existence that always craved, he knew it was selfish to make him stay.
"Ok, Piccolo. Please remember that you are always welcome here" Dende calls. Piccolo stops, turning his head slightly, he nods an acknowledgment. He ascends into the sky, heading into the dark blue heavens and towards home. Freeing one of his hands, Dende and Popo wave the warrior away, Dende sighs.
"Popo, I wish him well. I must say I do miss Piccolo's company around the place." He states as they start back for the house.
"Don't fret, Dende. He will return in good time. I have a feeling that this little one will bring forth his next visit." Popo comments looking down at the infant in Dende's arms.
"I hope so, I hope that we can give her what she needs in order to survive on her own some day" Dende hopes as they reached the steps of the marble building. Entering, the door instinctively closes gently behind them, the night outside was once again silent.