Most good stories start with a fundamental list of ingredients: the initial situation, conflict, complication, climax, suspense, denouement, and conclusion. Great writers sometimes shake up the recipe and add some spice.
Exposition
Let's Get This Printing Party Started.
Theo is a printer's apprentice in a tiny town in Westmark. He likes his job as assistant to Anton—it's something he's good at—and he can make some money doing it… at least until Cabbarus, the Chief Minister to the King, began restricting what people can and cannot have printed. Theo's a fan of small-town life and isn't looking for big change. So, you know, big change is bound to come his way.
Rising Action
Small-Town Shake Up
He might not want what's coming his way, but Theo's going to get it. Soldiers come to arrest him and Anton for illegally printing certain materials, and Theo flees—a wanted criminal—then joins up with the disreputable Count Las Bombas and Musket, and meets the urchin Mickle.
As Theo and his motley band of friends crisscross the country, he begins to question his values. Does violence have a place in life? What is good? And, for that matter, what is bad? When his gang winds up imprisoned, Theo takes up with a group of revolutionaries—led by Florian—to help break Las Bombas and his cohorts out of prison. At the same time, Cabbarus is trying to get more power and ruin King Augustine.
Climax
Putting the Kid in Kidnapped
Theo and Florian's Children go to rescue Las Bombas, Musket, and Mickle from the town of Nierkeeping, where they're imprisoned. Not only does Theo perform a prison break, but he confronts his moral compass when he almost kills a guy—but doesn't, thereby endangering his friend Justin. He officially joins the rebellion and realizes the polarizing ethics within himself. He's a man now, having done some good hard soul searching.
Falling Action
I Just Can't Wait to Be King
Cabbarus is super-greedy and he finally gets his just desserts. When he captures Theo and the gang, and brings them to court in order to further his own agenda, he gets a surprise—Mickle is really the dead princess he wanted to get out of his boss's mind. Ha. Cabbarus tried to kill her years ago, which Mickle finally remembers. Theo chases him down and decides to banish him. It's over for Cabby and his lackey Pankratz… or is it?
Resolution
Westmark for the Win
So Mickle's now officially Princess Augusta and she's not too crazy about her official position—but Theo's not even entirely sure what his role is. Should he stick around with his girl? Go hang with Florian and his gaggle of misfits? After seeing the last of his friends, Las Bombas and Musket, go off on their journeys, he tries to figure out what to do next. The new chief minister, Dr. Torrens, recommends he go on a tour of Westmark to figure out what the people want. Mickle recommends that he do it too—and assures him she'll be waiting for him. Ooh la la.