1: Two years ago

"Not the dark red!" Mai's mother instructed the nursemaid. "The bright red! The bright red!"

The nurse picked up the bright crimson jumper. It had black and gold stitching embroidered around the sleeves and collar. She put Tom-Tom in it and zipped up the back.

Mai sat in the nursery behind her mother, who stood watching the nurse dress the new baby. "And I want the matching red bonnet!"

"With the gold dragon pattern or the black flame pattern, M'Lady?" Asked the servant meekly.

"Dragons of course."

Mai was playing with her new knife. "It's a baby," she said dully. "It doesn't care what it wears."

"I care!" Mai's mother turned. She snatched the knife. "And none of your knife throwing tom foolery while the Captain's here! I don't want to see these little tools at all!"

"Ah, yes, Heaven Forbid the Great Captain think ill of me," said Mai. "However will I rise to greatness in the Fire Navy if I can't impress him? It's always been my dream to lick the boots of Captain Zhao and swab the poop deck as his cabin boy."

"That's enough, Young Lady!" Her mother took Tom-Tom from the nurse, who bowed as she exited. "There will be none of your freshness when Zhao comes to visit!" She cradled the newborn in her arms. "He is a great military leader, everything your father would've been had he not hurt his back as a lieutenant serving under General Shu."

"And why does he care about me?" Mai straddled the back of the chair.

"He doesn't. Not you as an individual, anyway, but our family as a whole. If he sees a picture perfect Noble Family with no flaws and high ideals, he'll make sure to give your father's career a boost. A very big boost."

Mai stood up. "But Mom…"

"Listen Mai," She shifted Tom-Tom to the other arm so she could touch Mai's shoulder. "Do you remember the story I told you about the frogs when you were little?"

"Sort of. Bits and pieces."

"Well, Mai, it's like this. We are all frogs wanting to cross the same giant river. On the other side is our greatest dream! And how do we cross the river?"

"Stones," Mai tried, guessing from a foggy memory.

"Exactly! The stepping stones! Every time you step off one stone and to another, you've completed some part of your life."

"And," said Mai, who was growing bored. "What does his have to do with Dad and Captain Zhao?"

"Your father has been stepping toward his dream of governor for years. One tiny stone at a time. If Zhao's visit goes well, he'll put in a good word to the Fire Lord on your father's behalf."

"In other words," said Mai. "Dad won't just be stepping off stones. Zhao will launch him clear across the river."

"Exactly." Mai suddenly had a funny vision of her father being loaded into a cannon and aimed at some random shore. "Please, Mai!" Her mother interrupted the daydream. "Zhao is your father's oldest friend!" She suddenly wrapped Mai in a hug, stunning her.

She didn't know how to react. She been hugged so little in her life. Where did the arms go, around the neck or under the armpits? What do you do with your hands? Is patting ok? When does patting become too rough?

These thoughts flashed through her brain in a matter of seconds. Mother looked into Mai's golden, almond shaped eyes. "Mai, a promotion for your father means a whole new life for us!"

"What's wrong with our old life?" Mai answered crossly. "We have a nice home, plenty of servants, we never starve! What could a promotion possibly bring that we don't have already?"

Another servant rushed in. "M'Lady, the Captain and his family have arrived!"

Her mother looked alarmed. "Already? Oh dear!" She quickly handed Tom-Tom to Mai and patted her hair. "Oh dear! Come along Mai! Let's not keep them waiting!"

As Mai and her family sat in their parlor, the butler came in. He bowed. "Presenting the Honorable Captain Zhao, his wife, and their children!"

Zhao didn't bother for the steward to finish his introduction. Swiftly, he marched into the parlor, his boots making heavy, crunching echoes on the stone floor.

Mai's father smiled and stood. "Zhao!" He embraced him. "It's so good to see you!"

"You too, my old friend," Zhao answered. "It has been far too long."

"Twenty years!" Her father concurred.

A group of seven followed him in, a lady with a pinched face and very pointy nose (Almost like a carrot, Mai thought), five boys, and a girl. The boys all had their hair pulled up in tight ponytails, identical to Zhao's style himself, and the girl had her hair in the ox horn bun style, just like Mai had had when she was younger.

"Allow me to introduce my family," said Zhao. "You remember my wife, Nunu, and my eldest, Zhao Junior."

"How time does fly! Zhao Junior was only a year old when I saw him last!"

"Permit me to introduce the rest of our children." Each one bowed as he spoke their name. "My sons Zhao-Yen, Zhao-Dong, and the twins, Zhao-Lang and Zhao-Shang."

The girl, who must have been twelve, fidgeted uncomfortably. Mai's mother, noticing this, cleared her throat. "And I see you have a lovely daughter as well."

"Oh, that's Zhao-Lee," said the Captain quickly. He smiled smoothly at the baby in her arms. "And let me congratulate you on the birth of your son!"

Her parents bowed their heads. "Thank you, Captain Zhao," they said together.

"Boys are so wonderful aren't they?" Said Zhao. Zhao-Lee looked down at her shoes, her mouth turned down sadly.

Mai had never met Zhao, but she had heard stories about him around the city. She found if she was quiet around certain people, she blended in and could learn interesting things.

Former sailors, some of whom had never served under Zhao, but had heard from those who had, told tales and spread rumors about his strictness, his temper, and his arrogance. She had never put much stock into gossip, but she was certain now that she didn't like Captain Zhao at all.

"Daughters are wonderful too," said her father, sounding awkward. "Let me introduce you to ours. Mai!"

Mai stood and Zhao took her hand and bowed. "You must be very excited about the birth of your brother. No doubt you will enjoy watching him grow and learn."

Mai surveyed him coolly. "All your children are named Zhao."

"That's right."

"You must really love someone with that name."

Mai's mother buried her face in her hands, and her father slunk on the sofa, but Zhao laughed heartily. "Indeed I do!" He clasped his hand on top of hers. "Such a charming young lady. I like you!"

"I don't like you."

Mai's mother looked as though she might faint, but Zhao laughed again. "Not many people do. I find your honesty quite refreshing."

The butler entered from the back doorway. "The supper is ready."

"Ah, so that's that wonderful smell!" To Mai's father, Zhao said, "Come old friend! Let us continue over dinner!"

As soon as everyone had left, Mai's mother stood up. "Mai, for Heaven's sake, are you insane?"

Mai's face didn't waver. "He's a jerk. A pompous, bloated, insensitive, flaming lesion. And he knows it."

Her mother looked furious. "Are you trying to destroy your father's career?"

"Dad doesn't need his kind of help," Mai said, heading toward the back door.

"I'm warning you, Mai!" Her mother said threateningly. "If you ruin this for your father, not only will I confiscate all your knives, I'll have the servants build a bonfire in the garden and burn them! Understand? Behave!"