When Sora fell into the portal, he ended up somewhere where he would've never suspected.
When he hit what seemed to be ground, he was unsure, for his eyes were closed. When he pried them open, he saw a short girl who seemed rather familiar, standing across from him and staring at him oddly. Her hands were in her hair when she screamed. He covered his ears at the shrillness of her shriek.
She ran out of the room in a flash, and Sora looked around at the environment. The walls were bleached and tiled, and he was beginning to wonder.
"Am I in.. the girls' restroom?" he questioned.
He found himself sitting in the sink, and hopped off of the counter and to the floor. He quickly made his way out of the bathroom before anyone else noticed him in the wrong area.
"Were you in the girls' bathroom?" he heard someone say. He turned around to see a thin, Asian resembling young woman. She giggled. "Are you lost?"
Sora scratched his head. "Uhm, I couldn't read the signs?"
She pointed to the signs that clearly read "Boys" and "Girls" on each door.
"Oh, I forgot my glasses." He snapped his fingers. "Can't see a darn thing without them."
"You're probably drunk," she suggested. "You don't even look old enough to be drinking, but to tell you the truth, neither are we."
"Where am I?" Sora questioned.
She laughed. "You must really be drunk. Did you forget you're at Garden?"
Sora blinked. "But this isn't a garden. We're inside."
She sighed hopelessly. "Kid, you've been drinking way too much," and she departed from him. When she was out of sight, Sora yawned and wondered how late it was. He knew he hadn't gotten sleep in quite some while. When the followed the long hallway and into another, he heard commotion. He ran down the catwalk and to a large lobby, where he saw many young people dancing, laughing, drinking, and having a good time.
"Wonder what they're celebrating," he murmured.
"There he is!" he heard someone shriek. He noticed the short girl he encountered in the girls' bathroom, along with a taller, lean, young blonde teenage boy. "He was in the girls' bathroom. Dunno if he's drunk or what," the girl continued.
"Hey, hey," Sora started, "I'm too young--"
"Then what are you doing here?" the boy demanded. "You some kind of freaky stalker or what?"
"What?! No, I got lost--"
"You'd have to be drunk to walk into the girls' bathroom," the boy continued.
The girl scratched her head. "Actually, what was weird was that he kinda appeared there."
The boy looked to her and raised an eyebrow. "No more spiked drinks for you."
She laughed nervously, and turned the other way, running off.
"I'm not even old enough to drink," Sora said. "What's all this about stalking?"
"Come on, be easy on him, Zell," Sora heard someone say. It was the Asian looking girl again. "If anyone tried to stalk Selphie, she could take them down easily."
"Well, I'm just concerned.." Zell said.
"Got a crush on her?" said the girl.
Zell rolled his eyes and walked off. The girl laughed.
"Sorry about him. He's got a bit of a short temper." She paused, and then said "My name's Rinoa."
"Sora."
"You really don't know where you are?"
"I was looking for uhm.. someone who has a sister named Paine."
Rinoa smiled. "That would be Squall. You want me to take you to him?"
"I know him! Haven't seen him in a while, though."
"So you're not as lost as you think. Follow me."
Rinoa took Sora's hand and dragged him through the massive crowd and to the Quad. At the Quad was an overhanging balcony that faced towards the ocean. Squall was looking out at the moon when he heard footsteps. He turned his head.
"Sora!" he exclaimed.
"You remember me," Sora said.
Squall smiled slightly. "Sure, can't forget you."
Rinoa looked to Squall and smiled. "You okay?"
He returned the smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired. You go back in and enjoy yourself."
"Alright. See ya."
Rinoa left, and Sora watched her walk off, then looked to Squall, confused. "I'm so lost."
"You'll experience it one day if you haven't already. Girl's catch onto it faster most of the time, but you'll get it."
"I don't mean THAT. I mean I don't know where I am."
"You trying to make your way back to Kairi?"
"How did you know?"
Squall laughed. "Our hearts are connected, remember? Although I'm happy because I'm with Rinoa now, I felt saddened for some reason and wondered if it had something to do with you." He smiled. "It seems that you do know what love is, then."
Sora brushed his foot against the ground. "It's not love. My home is there--"
"With Kairi," Squall added.
"Well, she's my friend. I also have to free Riku. That's why I..let her go."
"So it was for Riku at first that you left. Have you changed your mind?"
"What do you mean?"
Squall grinned. "You know what I mean. Now, your primary concern is Kairi. I can see it in your eyes."
Sora sighed. "Paine said you knew how to get back to Destiny Island. Tell me how.. please."
Squall frowned. "You're not going to get Riku back?"
"If I come across the world where Riku is trapped, then yes, but as of now, I don't know how to get to him."
"Are you jealous?"
"What..?"
"Of Riku? He's older than you, and you haven't ever felt like he has the upper hand towards Kairi?"
Sora lowered his head. "Pssh, please. Riku would win her over much quicker than I would. He's handsome, brave, fights well.. he's smart, quick, and what am I?"
"Hadn't it have been for you, however, the chosen Keyblade master, Kairi's heart would still be locked," Squall said. "You degrade yourself far too low. I would not be here with Rinoa if it weren't for you, and many people returned to their rightful worlds."
"What do you mean?"
"Did you see that girl with the yellow dress? Did she seem familiar? It was Selphie, who grew up on your island, but now, that memory is fuzzy because she is meant to be here in this world."
"What if Kairi is meant to be in another world? She said she can't remember where she came from.."
"It could well be that she went back to her Original World.."
"Leon.."
"It's Squall."
"Squall, how do I get to Destiny's Island?"
"Don't worry about that now."
"But--!"
"You're stressed and tired," Squall said, placing a hand on Sora's shoulder. "Rest. You need it."
Squall led Sora away from the Quad and crowded lobby and to the dormatories. He offered his dorm room, and though Sora refused, he gladly accepted the hospitality when he lied down onto the soft bed. Within moments, he was quickly asleep.