They eventually reached a hut, one that Brainy assumed was the wizard's home. It was cold, dimly lit and had a strange machine with cages but it wasn't a hollow tree so he gathered it couldn't be all that bad. Besides, the wizard couldn't be that bad. He was being nice and had promised him answers. Not to mention the fact that he knew who Brainy was. Brainy himself didn't know so if this stranger could help him then that would certainly improve the confusion. Once inside he and Star sat on the desk whilst the wizard got some supplies, an awkward silence lingering between them.
"You don't remember me?" she asked. Brainy shook his head. "To be fair we did only meet once but it was an eventful day. And you truly don't remember Father?"
"No," Brainy said. "I don't remember anyone... What's his name?" It would probably be good for his thoughts to stop regarding the stranger as 'the wizard'.
"Gargamel," she replies. "Unique name, I know. What's your name? Father only ever addresses you as the 'glasses one'."
"Brainy," he replies and the two shook hands. "I'm guessing from your statement we didn't meet under the best conditions?"
"Not really," she replied with a slight giggle. "Things seem to be going better this time though."

Gargamel came back in, expression almost smug.
"Are you two getting along?" he asked with faux care. Star nodded, cheerfully. "Good. So is there anything you remember?"
"Besides basic knowledge, not really," Brainy admitted. His instincts were telling him not to tell Gargamel anything but he was still so distant from his emotions that he didn't particularly care about the consequences or risks involved.
"Well we had better fill you in on everything then," Gargamel replied. "And there would be quite a lot given this is the second time Papa Smurf must have tampered with your memory."
"Second time?" Brainy asked, perplexed, feeling something close to the vicinity of interest for the first time since coming too.
"Indeed," Gargamel confirmed as he began to explain.

Apparently there had been a village of Smurfs – although what exactly a Smurf was remained a mystery- and they had been led by a dictator called Papa. Strange name for a dictator given the name seemed almost parental but he figured you couldn't judge based on a name given the situation. Apparently Gargamel made his own creations called 'the Naughties' so he could rescue the Smurfs. They included him, Smurfette, Vexy, Hackus and countless others but apparently the Smurf leader was very apt at making potions so made a formula that turned them all blue and erased their memories then brainwashed them to hate Gargamel. There was a lot of that explanation that a slight voice nagged him that it didn't make sense. Why didn't he rescue the Smurfs sooner if that was true? Then again it was the only truth he had been given so far and it made maybe a little sense...
"Then how did I forget the Smurfs and all that then?" Brainy asked. That was the main thing that was bothering him.
"You were always the smart one," Gargamel replied with a shrug. "You probably caught on so Papa entirely erased your memory so you wouldn't threaten his dictatorship."

He decided that Gargamel was probably telling the truth, even though there were so many red flags he was already picking up on. He needed to believe something though and this was the closest thing to believability so far. Everything else so far had just been nothingness. Plus that explained why he had been so far away from anything except trees with nothingness filling his mind.

"Then how come Star and I didn't meet under the 'best circumstances' if we were both made by you?" Brainy challenged, analytically noticing flaws in Gargamel's statement.
"She was my latest creation so she didn't get brainwashed by Papa as well," he replied. "We found you unconscious in the woods one day and admittedly I didn't recognise the blue version of you so I caught you so I could learn the Smurf Formula. Turning Star blue would mean she could have infiltrated the village and saved my creations. Admittedly I had to extract essence from you as well." Brainy wasn't entirely sure what that was but whatever it was it certainly didn't sound anywhere close to good. "Plus if you remember it I can turn you both blue and get enough essence to save everyone." Brainy found that concept mildly interesting and also pretty tempting to remember so he could tell Gargamel.
"Does this extracting essence thing hurt?" Brainy asked, warily.
"Of course not," Gargamel replied. "So will you work on remembering the formula? That way I can save the Smurfs plus the location of the village would help too so I can actually use the power to make them remember." Brainy hesitated, and then nodded. He didn't remember yet but if he did then he didn't see the harm in telling.

There were still flaws in Gargamel's statement and Brainy could easily enough pick up on each of them and he still sensed inherent issues but he chose to ignore them. His emotions were still too sparse to particularly care and a part of him was desperate to believe something. There was a gnawing in his chest that wanted some illusion of care and he assumed that came from his missing past.

He winced slightly as a sharp shoot of pain went through his head and chest as a wave of dizziness shot through him. Ever since he had come too periodically he felt sudden moments of sharp pain and dizziness. Occasionally the dizziness got so bad he couldn't see straight for minutes. He wasn't entirely sure why it was happening but it was and pain was never a good thing. Unless he had health issues before? It didn't help that he had no idea. Maybe remembering that as well would be a good idea. He didn't care about pain, seeming used to it, but it would help to not get himself into a more vulnerable situation.
"Are you okay?" Star asked him. After a moment his head cleared somewhat and he nodded, glad the coolness of Gargamel's home helped somewhat.

Gargamel excused himself to go to the side room and as soon as the door was closed the smirk grew across his face and he laughed to himself maniacally. This luck had certainly been good. Sure, it was unfortunate that Papa's former apprentice couldn't remember that knowledge but he was now trying to remember. Not to mention he seemed extremely naïve and or trusting. Using him to get the formula and capture the Smurfs was a perfect plan and once he had everything he needed there would be no need for the uncooperative Smurf who had escaped last time, nor would there be a need to carry on lying to his creation. From the looks of it though it seemed there was no need for the Smurf at all from anyone given the situation he was currently taking advantage of. Although he knew manipulation needed to carry on in order to control the Smurf enough that if he remembered he would definitely tell the truth. He reached into the cupboard where he was storing the vast amount of extract and added a few droplets to a miniature dragon wand that was the same he had given to Smurfette. This would hopefully carry on deceiving the Smurf to be deluded enough to believe he cared.

He went back into the main room, where Star was making light conversation. Both looked up as he came in as he forced a 'friendly' smile across his features.
"A gift for you," he said, passing the small wand over. Brainy took it, despite the trepidation he felt. "Why don't you give it a try?" Hesitantly Brainy waved it at a bottle and the blue potion floated over landing in his hand. "Hm. Certainly apt." Brainy did used to be Papa's apprentice so it did make sense that he had some experience with magic and potions. "Very good."
"Thanks," Brainy replied. The sense of being a compliment felt strange and unfamiliar to him but sent a strange sense of happiness for him, momentarily. Maybe Gargamel was telling the truth given how nice that felt.

"Why does he get a wand and I don't?" Star complained.
"Because, Star, you take essence each day," Gargamel pointed out. "Plus, your brother here," he carried on extending the lie, "was deceived into being Papa's apprentice so the skill of magic and potions is probably still in his subconscious." Star nodded. Again Brainy could sense issues with Gargamel's statements. If this Papa was such a controlling dictator then why would he risk having an apprentice at all because that would easily lead to someone finding out about this deeds. Yet again though he pushed that idea from his mind, wanting to believe this and not knowing what other options would make more sense anyway. The sharp pain filled him again, as did the dizziness, and yet again he tried to push it to the side with other things that didn't matter.

I drew the two sides of Brainy this time :)