Disclaimer: Well I tried to offer my piggy bank to Square Enix but the regretfully told me it was only enough to buy a book off Yen Sid's Shelf. So I still don't own the rights to Kingdom Hearts, but I'll keep saving up and make Meow Wow's a key part in the rest of the series!
Xehanort's POV 16 Months ago:
Xehanort had been worried when Ventus and Vanitas had decided to team up. This was not in the plan, and Xehanort didn't like things that he couldn't control. Just yesterday everything had been going so well, why did it have to fall apart like this: with two beat up apprentices setting aside their differences to mutiny against him. They were going to ruin everything! There was no other option... he'd have to kill them both and start over. It had been such a hassle to split a heart in two. But it couldn't be helped, Ventus wouldn't turn his back on Vanitas again, and Vanitas would no longer blame Ventus for his shitty life here. Unless... it would take a lot of work to make Vanitas hate Ventus again, but it would be simple to restore Ventus' innocence, a simple memory swipe and stick him with Terra and Aqua, they would teach him to be just as kind hearted and naive as they were, and Eraqus could train him up to fight Vanitas... this was going to complicate things and slow down his plans, but not nearly as much as starting over with a new apprentice would.
He waited until both boys were asleep before sneaking into the room, they were curled up against each other breathing softly. It was cute, but could not sway a heart darkened to the extent that Xehanort's was. It would take a lot more than that to make him think twice about his sadistic plans. He scooped up the innocent blond gingerly and cast a sleeping spell on both boys to keep them from stirring when separated. Vanitas clutched at the nearest pillow and pulled it close in his sleep, then settled back into a peaceful slumber as Xehanort took his light side away.
A memory curse was complicated and forbidden magic, only to be used in dire circumstances with the approval of other Keyblade Masters. But that never deterred the epitome of Darkness before. He laid the small boy on the ground in the west wing and went about gathering the materials. He needed the curse to strengthen over time, there was no way he could keep the boys from meeting forever, and if Ventus suddenly remembered everything right when they were about to fight to the death, it could mean the end of everything Xehanort had worked for. The potion took the heart of a cat, several herbs, hair of the victim, and the caster's blood. Quite a bit of it. Luckily most everything necessary was right in the room. There were dried up hearts in jars in one cabinet, every herb needed in another; it required another sleeping spell to remove enough of Ventus' hair to work, and the blood was poured in last from several cuts all over Xehanort's body. The amount of MP spent on casting the curse was enormous, almost too much for even Xehanort, but by the time the sun rose, it was complete. Next was to dispose of the boy.
A dark corridor took him to the Land of Departure, and the old man drug the both of them up to the summit. Two apprentices ran up when they saw him, the male taking the unconscious boy and the female running to get Eraqus. Terra took Ventus inside and Xehanort followed to wait in the grand hall for his old companion. Eraqus rushed down and gave Xehanort a mistrusting glance even as the old man was covered in wounds and looked exhausted.
"What happened to you and your apprentice?" He asked cautiously.
"Unversed... big ones. I thought I could fight them off but when my apprentice got hurt, I had to get him out of there," Xehanort said weakly, "I took a beating but I'll be ok, but my back... it just isn't strong enough anymore. I can't train the boy in only magic, and I can no longer swing a keyblade... would you please take care of him? I know he has potential, and if anyone can train him to live up to that potential, it's you Eraqus."
Eraqus still looked suspicious, he hadn't fully trusted Xehanort for years, but he couldn't see any harm in taking over the boy's training. So he agreed.
"They nearly got his heart, I'm not sure it made it all back... he should wake up, he is still breathing, I just... I don't know what the side effects might be, no one has ever had half their heart stolen," Xehanort pondered. That should explain what Eraqus would no doubt notice: that Ventus only had half a heart. And it should explain the memory loss as well, after all no one could say that it wouldn't be a side effect.
With Ventus taken care of, Xehanort returned to his Castle to deal with the other traitor, only to find that he could spin even Vanitas' rebellion to his own advantage.
Present:
Xehanort was thrilled at the anger and betrayal emanating from Vanitas when he left the Mark of Mastery Exam. The exam had gone perfectly, as had his meeting with Eraqus about the unversed. But everything out here had evolved in his favor without him having to do anything to make it happen. He wasn't sure what happened, but he was pleased with the results. When he took Vanitas home, Vani immediately drew his keyblade.
"Fight me, Master, and don't hold back!" It was a snarl full of hatred and anger that obviously Vanitas needed to get out through violence. But getting it out and letting it go wouldn't do anything good for Xehanort's plan.
"No, not today. I am very tired from everything today, let's just go watch a movie and relax," his tone seemed nonchalant but the look he gave his apprentice when they made eye contact made it clear that that was an order and Vanitas was not allowed to disobey.
Vanitas dropped his weapon and followed Xehanort while all the rage within seethed and fermented inside of him.
