Missing year – Oz
"Mistress, we found that man who was trying to enter your castle without permission. He said he had something to offer you, but we'd rather think he's a thief. Do you want us to kill him?"
The curtains opened, leaving sight to the Wicked witch petting her first and favorite flying monkey, Walsh. Her black dress sparkling in the green light as a thousand black stars seemed like it was swallowing all the lights around, and the guard bit his lips, impressed. She dropped her arm from the monkey's head, and answered.
"Hum, that's tempting. But…I guess our winged friend here would love to take care of him. What do you think my pretty?"
As the monkey screamed in enthusiasm, the silhouette under the hood struggled to escape the soldier's grip, and managed to free his mouth.
"Please, Ma'am, don't! I…I can be useful! I know things you wanna know! And I'm a father! Please don't let my daughter grow up as lonely as you were!"
These were the wrong words. The witch got off her seat and her magic lifted the reckless man in the air, strangling him as she came closer.
"What did you just say?" she whispered, her face almost touching his.
- I said you wouldn't want another little girl to suffer as you used to"
She let him fall down on the floor, and sent out all the guards and flying monkeys.
"So, now that we're in private…"
She moved nearer again, and faced the man still lying on the floor.
"Who are you, and what do you know about me?
- I… I know about you because I used to… to know your mother.
-You knew Cora? From where?
- From… from Wonderland. I was at her service for a very long time there and she wasn't very careful about if I was there or not to talk.
- So that's where you met her? As the Queen of Hearts? And you said she… she talked about… me?"
The anger in the Wicked Witch's voice had softened, giving way to the memory of the broken, given-up baby Zelena. Feeling he was gaining ground, the man sat, and spoke a little bit more easily.
"Sometimes. Once I heard her talking to the white Rabbit. She was… A bit drunk that day… She said that her daughter was a complete failure, not even able to understand power. That she would have probably had better luck with her first-born… She also said that if that princess Eva hadn't been there, you'd be with her, and run the whole world by now. I heard about your story, and your sister, so I lucky guess"
As he was talking, the grip on Zelena's broomstick loosened. And it was almost kindly that she asked the next question.
"Who are you? And how did you come to Oz?
-I'm used to world-travelling. My name is Jefferson, but you may know me as the Mad Hatter. "