"What did you see in the field?"
"I saw…I saw…I saw the Wizard brutally stab Agatha! He killed her in cold blood!"
"This is bullshit! It didn't happen the way she described it!"
"Wizard! Please remain seated! You've had your chance to speak, and you will be able to respond once their testimony is complete! We can continue this proceeding with or without your presence, you know!"
For over an hour, Glinda's first captain testified against the Wizard at his trial. She described the day of Agatha's death, how the lieutenant had led them to Theodora's castle, how a scuffle ensued and her untimely death at his hands.
It was damning testimony, which upset the Wizard. As his outburst echoed throughout the packed chamber, the council leader mildly scolded him. But as he took his seat once more, China Girl reassuringly whispered into his ear that it would soon be her turn to question her.
From the Wizard's perspective, it was hard to tell whether the council favored his testimony or not. The purple bunny rabbit, the green frog and the jovial tiger did not show animosity or favoritism towards the Wizard. He knew the Munchkin woman hated him, while the council leader was openly friendly towards him. The rest of the council he barely knew, so he did not know their thoughts.
When the testimony finally concluded, every Ozian in the auditorium would be able to cast their vote and decide whether the Wizard was guilty or innocent. In the Wizard's mind, the outcome of his trial was still uncertain.
"Your witness", the Emerald City prosecutor then said to the porcelain doll.
Assisted by the Wizard, China Girl then proceeded to energetically jump onto his desk. She wasted little time in counterattacking and swiftly began her aggressive cross-examination of each of the two captains. Luckily for the Wizard, she had demanded that each of the captains be sequestered while the other gave testimony, which had been granted by the council leader.
China Girl went into the minutest details of the events that occurred on that day. She grilled the captain about her recollection of the day's events. During her examination, the following exchange took place:
China Girl: According to your testimony, you did not know why Agatha had ventured to the Winkie Country, is that correct?
Captain #1: Yes, that is true.
China Girl: And during your testimony, you also said that the Wizard stabbed Agatha, is that true?
Captain #1: Yes.
China Girl: In cold blood?
Captain #1: Yes, absolutely.
China Girl: Are you certain of that?
Captain #1: Without a doubt.
China Girl: Agatha was armed, correct?
Captain #1: Yes.
China Girl: And isn't it also true that on the day in question Agatha brought with her a magical weapon?
Prosecutor: Objection!
China Girl: This device was already entered into evidence during the Wizard's testimony.
Council Leader: overruled.
China Girl: Answer the question!
Captain #1: Yes.
China Girl: Isn't it true that Agatha also pointed said weapon at the Wizard before he even approached her?"
Captain #1: I don't remember.
China Girl: You don't remember?
Captain #1: I don't remember.
China Girl: The Wizard gave testimony earlier about a conversation he had in the field with Agatha prior to her death. You were present during this conversation, correct?
Captain #1: Yes.
China Girl: Do you remember what was said in the moments prior to her death?
Captain #1: No. I was too far away to hear.
China Girl: you were too far away to hear?
Captain #1: Yes, I was too far away to hear.
China Girl: And too far away to see as well?
Captain #1: Things happened so fast.
As China Girl aggressively questioned each of the captains, the Wizard gave a weak smile. He never knew that this little girl would have it in her, but she did. Since she demanded that each of the captains leave the room prior to the other's testimony, both witnesses gave conflicting statements. The first captain who testified didn't remember what Agatha said to the Wizard, while the other captain testified that Agatha had acted hostile.
China Girl: Do you remember what was said while this exchange took place?
Captain #2: I don't remember what was said, per se, but I do remember that Agatha was acting hostile from the start, which was to be expected because of where we were.
China Girl: Move to strike 'which was to be expected because of where we were.' The witness can't draw a conclusion…
Council Leader: Granted. So stricken from the record.
While the first captain had testified that she could not recall what the Wizard said to the lieutenant, the second captain said that he "had a friendly affect, right up until the end [when he stabbed her]."
During their breaks, China Girl would often quietly remark to the Wizard that the Emerald City prosecutor was lazy, incompetent and a moron. And she was probably right. While the Wizard had noticed that China Girl made some minor mistakes, this paled in comparison to the Emerald City's errors, which were more glaring and major. This was probably due to the prosecutor's inexperience. Since all "Good" Ozians were so well behaved, there was never any need for a formal prosecution or trial. Typically, "Wicked" Ozians who strayed from the city's rigid code of moral "Goodness" were simply banned from the city.
After enduring several hours of blistering and aggressive questioning from the porcelain doll, both captains, now worn out and exhausted from giving testimony and answering heated questions, wearily departed from the auditorium.
The packed chamber remained silent. The elderly council leader looked at his colleagues who were seated to his left and to his right. Then he addressed the room. "Now that we've heard testimony from both parties, we will adjourn for a break. A brief closing statement will shortly follow."
As the Wizard was escorted into the hallway—a preferable place to be rather than being locked in a cage—China Girl followed him. She still had a nagging question to ask him.
"So, you told me that you were able to escape from the Wicked Wi—I mean, Theodora's castle and enter the Haunted Forest", China Girl said, quickly correcting herself since she knew the Wizard did not like her to use that moniker when discussing the witch. "But how were you able to make it back here from the Haunted Forest?"
His back to the wall, the Wizard gazed at her as he sat on the hard hallway floor of the palace. He knew that they wouldn't be brought back into the auditorium for some time, so he decided to tell her the full and complete story.
"It all started after I fell down that ravine…"