Cactus

KLO-toon: Mimi, we'll be heading to the Desert. We're switching with S&R 3. They are still at the borderless border, but as we are bringing Magenta Charles, we should be able to expedite the search. Write a research diary of extracting the water from cacti. 

Sonni: Stay safe out there, Mimi. If it gets too hot, you can come back early. We won't take you away from the Search and Rescue Department.

Taegrin: Keep cool. And don't go too crazy with Magenta ... Don't harass KLO-toon too much either.

Observation Log of KLO Mimi Lakes: KLO Promotion Ceremony

Strongmonth the 30th - Willmonth the 4th, Year 53 of the Century of the Nymphs, 26th Cycle

FINALLY! I get to go and search for Reagan. I've got my MerBubble ready, so I won't overheat again. And I've been given a schedule of where to be and when. I'm hanging with Magenta and KLO-toon. He would normally be at the front of the expedition, apparently, but he is hanging with me and Magenta at the effective 'command centre' of the expedition. I am here to help extract poisons from edible plants or something - is the official reason. I haven't done anything like this before, but Magenta said she'll help me with my report, and maybe it'll also help her thesis too, so I'm okay with that.

When we first arrived at the place they all think they've been up to, they know from one Mermaid was here the past week; Magenta first hooked up her phone and the coloured-in physical map to Magenta's phone and continued making her map - the holo map - coloured based on who had been where. The benefit of her map is that it can show the 3D of the environment and the 2D bird's eye view, so it was really cool. It even can be zoomed in and out and you can see the individual plants (only of the places Magenta can see, or what is captured on people's phones once they are hooked up to her map.) But if you zoom in and out too quickly, it can make you dizzy. 

Particularly when it's hot.

KLO-toon set up a tent for us but I soon went out and looked for some cactus with purple water. Turns out, it is poisonous! 

Only a little bit, but it is a very flavour to magic moss. It's a lot sweeter - Hoen would love some of this! 

Extraction

Day 1

After grabbing a few cacti, Magenta helped to separate the water from the inside of them. I had kind of mangled the taking of them cause I was trying to keep my MerBubble intact, but take the cactus and was trying to put the cactus in my bubble to get it. Still, I got stung, so I was then in water form to get the spike out, but then I was the MerBubble and the outside bit was really hot and ... I need to practice with AB again. He is really good with the temperature change thing.

Magenta: Did you use magic to cut this cactus?
Mimi: Yeah?
Magenta: Hmm... I can't tell if it's your magic or from the cactus. 
Mimi: ... Do I have to go get another one?
Magenta: Yeah
Mimi: Fine

Day 2

I picked a few different cacti this time. They each had different coloured water. Mostly purple, but different types of purple to almost blue. Tasting them, the more purple ones have more poison. I didn't take any roots though, cause it was hard enough to not damage the top. Well, Magenta helped me do a water slice that's pretty quick, but I have to let my MerBubble go for a moment. 

Mimi: How is the search going?
KLO-toon: Why are you using notes here? Anyways, Magenta's map has been a big help. Now we don't have to try and identify our search by cactus. 
Mimi: I would get so lost.
KLO-toon: ... You did. 
Mimi: ...

Day 3

An underground cave was found, so we moved the command centre there in order to keep us cool. I can coat the walls with water and Magenta can make a gentle breeze. It's basically a homemade air con.Good thing, I was getting quite hot but didn't want to get left behind again. 

Magenta thinks we should get the roots of the cacti next. The cacti seem to be a magical material, but not the water. Maybe there will be more in the roots.

KLO-sky: You're so lucky to be in the aircon.
Mimi: Have you found Reagan yet?
KLO-sky: Not since we found a flower of Hoen that led us to this cave.
Mimi: Then get out and go find him.

Day 4

I found a few cacti near a cave. I'm thinking I extend the cave in order to find the roots underground without getting so hot above ground.

I took down a wall, but there was another cave section behind it. At least I've found a bunch of cacti roots. They were close to the top section of this cave.

Mimi: Did someone move a cactus to the entrance?
KLO-toon: Wasn't that you?
Mimi: Are you saying I dropped one?
KLO-toon: Are you saying you didn't?

Day 5

So, we found out that the cacti actually have different areas of water in each of their sections and that each section has a different level of poison. They are each yummy in their own right! Thus, is it not that different cacti have different water types, but that the cacti are just different levels of growth, and their tops are different depending on what growth stage they are at. 

For now, this means cataloguing each level at each growth stage so drinkable water can be extracted by the S&R team (or anyone else afterwards) This is mostly KLO-sky's job. I'm just helping a little. 

Mimi: Who moved the cactus near the entrance?
Magenta: There was a cactus near the entrance?
Mimi: Yes? KLO-toon said I dropped it?
Magenta: ... Maybe KLO-sky brought it in with the others.
Mimi: Ah

Day 6

The roots are more magical than the tops. There are five stages of water poison. Each is nicely labelled with a colour. And maybe because they are magical, each stage tastes slightly different, even with different levels of poison, and not just the same level watered down. 

Magenta blindfolded me and tested me on this too.

Magenta: Do you know any Dryads with the nature of a cactus?
Mimi: No? There are no cacti in the Great Forest
Magenta: Huh. There seems to be some Dryad magic here though...
Mimi: Is it the poison? Should we bring Hoen?
Magenta: Maybe?

Day 7

The cacti seem to both extract poison and inject poison. We're not sure why though. There's nothing here to protect though?

KLO-toon: There are more cave entrances than we thought possible. A lot of stone and clay seems to be close to the surface in the borderless border.
Mimi: And you said you didn't like my sticky notes!
KLO-toon: Oh for ... Don't leave your sticky notes in my paperwork pile!
Mimi: I think you need to sleep. They were next to your pile. And bright purple!

Day 8

I can remove the poison from the dark purple to make it look light purple. But it tastes watered down as opposed to the light purple flavour. Still means I haven't been able to extract all of it. I'll keep trying.

Magenta: Are you going by colour or taste?
Mimi: I don't see magic colour like you. Why, is there magic in the water?
Magenta: Ehhhh...
Mimi: Then why ask?
Magenta: Well, it's like a reflection?
Mimi: Of what? And how does that help me? I can't taste the poison when I'm trying to extract it ...
Unless...

Day 9

I can get it to the almost blue colour, but not quite yet. I'm missing something. Magenta thinks she might have found something but she went into a mumbled focus streak and I'll have to wait till she's done. I'm gonna explore the hidden cave system. 

KLO-sky: I am not drinking that.
Mimi: Why? I took the poison out.
KLO-sky: By drinking it!Mimi: I didn't! I just merged with it!
KLO-sky: That's the same thing.
Magenta: Wait, do it again - I might be able to use the reference

Day 10

I've succeded! I can now extract the poison from each colour to make normal water fit for everyone else. 

KLO-toon: You gonna write how you did this?
Mimi: And expose my secrets? How could you ask that of me?
Magenta: I've written it. 

Sonni: Maybe we should have Mimi simply write up diary entries. Then she can tell her stories and still get out any pertinent information. Her case isn't exactly normal already, and this might help her help us better.
KLO-toon: As long as she separates recipes and important details into easy-to-see sections, I see no reason why not to. It will save me a lot of headaches later.