This chapter is shorter than most of the others, but it expands on Chapter 2. The Xs and Chis were really annoying to type on an iPod Touch. Anyway, on with the story.

Chapter 3: Memories
As they sat around a table in Pravoka's pub, the Ten Pirates Tavern, they discussed on what to do. With Bahamut's death, Pravoka was in trouble. In the three days since Ganondorf had killed Bahamut, a panic seemed to take hold of the citizens of Pravoka. The dragons no longer had a king, and therefore, they were not united. They had to leave before things got ugly.
Ryet was on a trip to Cornelia and would be back soon.
When he did return, he had more than just alerted Princess Sara as to their condition and what had happened to Rytex, but he had apparently learned from her about an old wise man that could help them. Master Xehanort had been around for a long time, and according to Ryet, he probably knew a lot about what they were trying to learn about.
"But where is he?" asked Link.
"Well, according to Sara, he lives up in the mountains, near the North end of the Thamasa Basin."
"How do we get there?" asked Axel.
"That's easy. There's a trail through the Thamasa Basin that goes to it from Crescent Lake."
They set off.
As they walked, Ryet thought heavily about Xehanort and Ganondorf.
-X-
Ryet and Panadorf were nearing adulthood now. Panadorf still used powers of darkness for his missions, though he showed great fortitude and control over it, even going so far as to not allow it to gain even a foothold.
"I have grave news." said Xehanort one day.
"What is it?" asked Panadorf.
"Master Ganon. We have discovered that someone has kidnapped him, and they intend on holding him for ransom. They left a message, explaining their demands." he said, holding up a piece of parchment.
He read aloud.
"Ryet and Panadorf are to come to the Badlands. You are not to follow them, Master Xehanort. To them and only them will I reveal what it is I want. And trust me. I shall know if you follow. Χ."
"X?"
"No. Not X. Chi. I fear someone wishes to unleash another Ruin and Creation. I ask you to play along, but be discreet. If this man asks of anything unreasonable, you are to abandon it. I will want a report on this event. Something is happening that may have a connection to the gathering of the forces of darkness."
They bowed and left.
The Badlands were a place that existed on a separate realm from the one they were in.
"Ryet, wait, please." said Xehanort as they both walked out.
Ryet stopped.
"I have a feeling that Master Ganon is up to something." he said slowly after Ryet came back to him.
"Why?"
Xehanort sighed.
"Years ago, he revealed a plan to me, convinced that I would help him with it, as a friend. Years ago, we were studying the Keyblade War."
"The Keyblade War?"
"An ancient war, wrought by many Keyblade wielders of light and darkness who fought over the Door to the Ultimate Darkness. The ones who wielded powers of darkness wanted to forge the χ-blade so that they could open the door, while the wielders of light wanted to stop them. Eventually, the χ-blade was forged in battle, and the one who wielded it laid waste to every other Keyblade wielder. Everyone except one person. That one person defeated the wielder of the χ-blade through some unknown means, but the first man, with the last of his strength, opened the Door. He wrought a Ruin and destroyed much of that world, in an attempt to gain the powers of Nothingness. However, the second man destroyed him before he could complete the destruction, thus sealing that destroyed world of In-Between on a plane between us and the Door to the Ultimate Darkness. It is here that the Badlands exists."
"What does this have to do with Master Ganon?"
"Years ago, I came across a report he had written. It stated clearly that, if the Keyblade War brought about a better realm than what had been, then what if there was yet another Keyblade War? He stated that he knew that I would not step away from the light, so he opened his heart to darkness. When he tried to convince me, I was prepared to do what I had to, even kill my best friend to stop this."
Ryet's eyes widened.
"He lost control of the Darkness within him, sending a black fire at me. It caused the scars here." he said, gesturing at his face.
"He was horrified by the action and fled. Then he came back, with you. He told me what had happened. I asked you to stay behind because of two things. One, to reveal to you what you cannot remember, when you first came here. Master Ganon was your master, but then he stated that he tried to remove the darkness within you as an experiment."
Ryet gasped.
"I was his... guinea pig!"
"Not quite. You had a monstrous darkness in you, beyond that of anything we had ever heard of before. He tried to purge it from you. And so a being named-"
"Rytex." said Ryet automatically.
"Indeed. It seems your memory is returning. Yes, it was Rytex. Master Ganon tried to destroy him, but failed. It is possible that Rytex may be the one responsible for Master Ganon's kidnap. But there may be more to that. Master Ganon may not have given up on his ambition. Also, he seems to have been training Panadorf in the ways of Darkness. You must be on the watch for anything suspicious coming from him. He may have formed an alliance with Rytex in order to achieve his ambition of creating another Keyblade War."
"So you want me to keep an eye on Master Ganon and make sure Panadorf doesn't lose control?"
"Exactly."
Xehanort waved a hand. A white and blue bubble appeared in the air.
"Go now to the Badlands and see what is occurring."

I decided to use Master Xehanort over Master Eraqus because I already mentioned Eraqus in my first story. At the time, it was a name to put in, but now it's kind of a fatal flaw in the story, making Xehanort a good guy... Anyway, R&R.