An Impossible Landing

Mariza's eyes fluttered open to a world that made no sense at all.

Overhead, purple clouds drifted in lazy spirals while enormous playing cards tumbled through the air like autumn leaves. A river of glittering tea flowed backward up a hill, and somewhere in the distance, she could hear what sounded like a croquet mallet arguing with a flamingo.

"Where am I?" she whispered, sitting up slowly.

Her brown jacket was dusty, and her turquoise-streaked hair felt tangled. The last thing she remembered was playing catch with Clover in the garden. Then that awful pain when the ball hit her head, and everything going dark.

A small blue flame flickered to life in her palm without her even thinking about it. The familiar warmth made her feel less alone in this strange place.

"Oh my!" came a voice nearby. "How peculiar! Your fire is the most beautiful shade of blue I've ever seen."

Mariza turned to see a girl about her own age with blonde hair and a blue dress, looking both curious and delighted.

The Parrot's Warning

"I'm Alice," the blonde girl said, stepping closer. "And you're absolutely glowing! Literally!"

Mariza looked down at the blue flame dancing in her palm. "I'm Mariza. This happens sometimes when I'm nervous or confused."

"Well, you're in Wonderland now," Alice said cheerfully. "Everything here is confusing, so you'll fit right in!"

They walked together down a cobblestone path lined with oversized mushrooms. Alice chattered about the Mad Hatter's tea parties and the Queen's croquet games while Mariza marveled at the backward-flowing tea river.

Suddenly, a bright green parrot landed on a nearby signpost. "Beware! Beware!" it squawked urgently. "The sleeping sickness spreads! Those who breathe the purple mist fall into endless dreams!"

Alice laughed. "Oh, don't mind Polly. She's always dramatic about something."

But Mariza noticed purple wisps beginning to drift from the spiral clouds above. The parrot flapped its emerald wings frantically. "Listen to me! The mist brings danger!"

"Maybe we should find shelter," Mariza suggested, but Alice was already skipping ahead, seemingly unconcerned about the warning.