Chapter Text
The Fount of Knowledge, Blueberry Milk, ran down the stairs of the Blueberry Yogurt Academy. One misstep would crumble him, but he ran regardless.
He had finally finished his lecture to his students. As much as he loved to teach, even he was bored of today’s topic. Who wants to hear about the correct way to title a paper? That doesn’t matter now.
It’s his lunch break. 30 minutes outside of this building before another 3 hour lecture. The next topic is mildly interesting- the biology of cake hounds- but having multiple lectures in one day tired him out. He needed to sit in the sun. Breathe in air that hasn’t been in his stuffy classroom.
Hey, even professors need a break sometimes.
He rushed out the door, holding his lunchbox. It’s a plain lunch, but he doesn’t need much. Just some time outside. He exited the building and walked down the cobblestone steps towards the beach.
Just one step onto the dock outside made him feel better. He breathed a sigh of relief. The calm waves always cheered him up. He walked quickly to the bench at the end.
He went to open up his lunch when something splashed him; his lunch was instantly soggy.
He looked up to see what did it, but found no one.
He turned down to his lunch-
Another splash, greater than the previous. His robes were drenched, weighing heavy on his body. He heard giggling.
This was getting annoying. He stood up, letting his lunch fall to the floor. It wasn’t edible anymore, anyways.
“Who’s there? Show yourself!” He spun around, but no one stood on the dock with him.
A cookie popped up out of the water. Someone Blueberry Milk had never seen before. He would have remembered her.
She was radiant.
White hair cascaded down her shoulders. A brilliant pearl was positioned on her forehead. Her eyes, a bright coral, filled with light when she saw him.
“Sorry!” She laughed. “It’s just so funny to mess with land cookies!” Her smile was wide as she spoke, her voice melodic and addicting.
For the first time in a while, Blueberry Milk didn't have any words. His mind faltered.
“Um… You’re fine, I’m- I’m okay, I- It’s fine.” He cringed at his own words.
The cookie in the water looked worried. “Are you okay?”
He nodded, leaving the haze she put him in.
“Yeah, I’m okay. You’re good. I’m all for a good prank. My name is Blueberry Milk Cookie.” He sheepishly smiled.
That got her to giggle again.
“Okay, good!” She started. “I’m White Pearl Cookie. It’s great to meet you.”
It’s more than great. It’s wonderful. He wondered why it took this long to meet her.
Wait, why is she here? Why did they meet here?
“Sorry, are you a student here?” He asked. He remembered all of his students, but not every student at that academy was his. It’s possible the schedules just didn’t align for the two of them.
She looked just as confused as he did, before an idea popped into her head. “Ohhh, no, I’m not. I couldn’t be. I’m not a land cookie.”
She kept saying that phrase. “You keep saying ‘land cookie,’ but I don’t know what that is.”
She smiled. “Well, you have legs, and I have…” A rosy pink tail popped up behind her. Pearls ran down from the tip to the base. Scales formed a perfect pattern.
She’s a mermaid.
“You’re a mermaid!” Blueberry Milk grinned. It’s always great to learn something new. Now he knows about a whole other species! He can’t wait to tell his friends. They’d be just as enamored as he was.
White Pearl nodded. “Yeah! I saw you walking on the dock. I wanted to meet you!”
Blush rose to his cheeks. Someone this beautiful wanted to meet him. He didn’t know if the water on his hands was from the ocean or from sweat.
“Well, thanks! It’s great to meet you!” He finally got out.
She giggled again. That laugh was contagious. “It’s great to meet you too, Blueberry Milk Cookie.”
She suddenly turned around and dove below the depths. He couldn’t help but watch her swim away. Gone just as quickly as she appeared.
He could swear she turned back to wave goodbye, but she was too far away for him to tell. He hoped he was right.
Bells rang from the clock tower. It’s noon. His lecture begins in 20 minutes. He took one last look at the ocean before turning to walk back.
He didn’t need to eat his lunch. The butterflies filled his stomach enough.