Once upon a time, in the magical kingdom of Enchancia, there lived a young girl named Maddie. Maddie led a simple life, working at the village shoe shop with her mother, Sarayah. One fateful day, they were summoned by King Primus the II, who needed a new pair of royal slippers. Maddie and her mother arrived at the castle. Maddie was very excited to meet the King. Sarayah placed a slipper on the King's foot. It was a perfect fit. And so were they!

King Primus and Sarayah were soon married. And what seemed like a storybook ending was really a storybook beginning. Maddie was at her window, looking down in awe at the carriage waiting for her and her mother. Sarayah called Maddie down, telling her that it was time to go. Maddie quickly grabbed a drawing of her and her mother before rushing downstairs. Maddie and her mother stepped into the carriage which took them away to the castle.

Maddie's friends, Morgan and Rose, ran after the carriage, bidding their best friend goodbye. As the carriage left the village, a rabbit and two birds noticed the carriage that was carrying Maddie and her mother's belongings and decided to climb into the back. On their way to the castle, Maddie started to wonder what their shared room would look like. Sarayah told Maddie that, now that they'll be living in the castle, they'll both have their own rooms.

They arrived at the castle where they saw King Primus, Princess Pippa, and Prince Starscream. The two were twins who were both born with wings. Angel twins. Beside them was a steward named Bruno and a Witch named Selena. Maddie and Sarayah stepped out of the carriage and Maddie stood on a platform in a blue gown. Some birds flew over and placed a blue tiara on Maddie's head. She was now officially a princess. Maddie and Sarayah approached the royal family.

They curtsied for them and Maddie said hello to her new siblings. Maddie was so excited to be sisters with Pippa. But Pippa reminded her that they were just step-sisters. She always preferred it to be just her and her brother. Sarayah soon stepped forward with a little gift for the twins. Badges that she had made of the Royal crest. She wanted to make a good impression since there weren't many fairytales about loving stepmothers. So, she hoped to change that. Primus welcomed them to the family while Bruno introduced the two to the whole kingdom. Selena then stepped forward and said a spell that made... rain?

"Selena, I said flowers, not showers," Primus said to her

"Oh. Excuse me, Your Highness. I'm still breaking in my new staff," Selena said

"That's Selena, our royal Witch. She comes from a long line of royal Witches and Wizards. So, we're stuck with her."

While trying to figure out her staff, she managed to fix her spell and make rose petals fall from the sky instead of rain. Maddie liked the new change while Selena looked proud of herself. They all then went inside. Maddie kept bowing to the servants when she didn't need to. Pippa told her that she didn't have to bow to anyone unless they were royalty. Maddie admitted that it was going to be a while until she got used to things. Pippa told her to just follow her lead and she'll be fine. Maddie soon fell behind when she noticed two servants placing down Maddie and Sarayah's new thrones. Maddie smiled to herself when someone suddenly bumped into her. It was Selena. Due to the bump, Selena accidentally made a suit of armor disappear.

"Child! Watch where you're dawdling," Selena told Maddie. 

Maddie gasped, "Miss Serena!"

"It's Selena," she corrected

"It's so great to meet a real live sorcerer. That flower trick was A-mazing," Maddie said smiling

"If by a-mazing, you mean a complete waste of my talents, then, yes, thank you. I should be out slaying dragons, battling ogres. But, no! King Primus has me doing parlor tricks when I should be..." Selena was cut off when she disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Maddie wondered where Selena had gone when Bruno suddenly appeared next to her. He introduced himself and explained what he did around the palace. His job was to make sure everything in the castle is where it should be when it should be. And Maddie was supposed to be in the banquet hall thirty seconds ago. Realising this, Maddie made her way there. At dinner, Maddie was confused. There was so much cutlery. There are six forks and five knives there. Maddie picked all the forks up wondering which one she had to use.

"Maddie," Primus suddenly spoke up

Maddie threw the cutlery everywhere in surprise

"Yes, Your Majesty?" Maddie asked nervously.

"Call me Primus. Or 'You! With the crown!' Or...Dad?" Maddie smiled awkwardly at Primus' attempt at bonding with her, "It's a tradition to provide an official welcome to every new member of the royal family. For your mother, it was the wedding. But for you, we will be throwing a royal ball in your honor at week's end."

"Brilliant!" Starscream said with a mouthful of chicken.

"Starscream, manners," Bruno spoke up

"Sorry," Starscream swallowed his food.

"A ball? Just for me?" Maddie asked. 

"Father, why didn't I get a ball?" Pippa asked

"You did, Pippa. When you and your brother were born," Primus said

"You don't remember?" Starscream asked

"Maddie, it will be your royal debut. And you and I shall dance the first waltz," Primus said smiling.

"Oh, Prime. You're so sweet," Sarayah said smiling.

"I have to dance?" Maddie asked scared as she had no idea how to dance

"Why, what better way to let everyone in the tri-kingdom area know that Princess Maddie has arrived!" Primus said smiling.

Maddie just gave an unsure smile. After dinner, Maddie was shown her new room. It was so much bigger than her old one. She was amazed by the size while Bruno acted like this kind of room was completely normal. He showed Maddie her new canopy bed, window seat, playing area, reading nook, and in a walk-in wardrobe, all of her new gowns and royal accessories. Bruno then showed her how to ask for anything she wanted at any time of the day. He pulled a rope which summoned a maid. Maddie didn't need anything at the moment so Bruno left Maddie to adjust to her new room. Maddie was very unsure about all this. She wasn't ready to be a princess. 

'Everything seems crazy big and I'm feeling unsteady. Mum says I'll be just fine but I don't think I'm ready. New school, new friends, new family, and a ball where they want me to dance. I'm just a little girl from a small, small town, in this world, I don't stand a chance.'

'I'm not ready to be a princess. I don't have what it takes. I'm too short for gowns, I look bad in crowns, and I'm gonna make a bajillion mistakes. I'm too average to be a princess. I respectfully refused. I don't know the rules, I don't want the jewels, and these feet were made for comfortable shoes! Shelves bursting with trinkets that I'm afraid to touch, fancy toys, and ginormous pillows. It's all much, too much, too much!'

Maddie ran out of her room to go find her mother.

'I'm not ready to be a princess! One look and that seems clear! Cancel my debut, keep your royal crew, and if I ever find Mum's room... I'm outta here!' Maddie sat in the middle of a hallway, completely lost, 'Maddie... Not a noble name. Maddie. Even my wave is lame. I'm not ready to be a princess!'

Hearing her daughter outside, Sarayah opened the door to her and Primus' room to see her daughter on the floor, looking so blue. Sarayah brought her into the room to have a little talk. 

"What's the matter, sweetheart?" Sarayah asked

"I don't want a royal ball," Maddie said

"Oh, Maddie. I've never known you to turn down a party, especially one thrown just for you."

"But I don't know anything about being a princess," Maddie said taking her tiara off, "And I don't know how to dance. I'm going to trip and everyone's going to laugh at me."

"You'll do fine. And besides, no one ever laughs at a princess."

"Says who?"

"Come here, Maddie. Just try the best you can," Sarayah put Maddie's tiara back on, "And if it's not good enough for all those stuffy dukes and duchesses, then that's their problem. Mmm-hmm?"

"Maddie, I have something for you," Primus said kneeling to Maddie, "Consider it a welcome gift."

Primus showed her an Amulet with a big, light blue gem. Meanwhile, Pippa happened to walk past the room and noticed what her father was doing. 

"It's beautiful," Maddie said amazed

"It's a very special amulet, so you must promise to never take it off," Primus said putting it around her neck, "That way you'll never lose it."

"I promise."

Pippa scoffed and went to her room.

"Now, you best run off to bed. You have princess school in the morning," Primus told her

"Princess school?" Maddie asked

"Royal Prep, where all the princes and princesses from every kingdom go to learn our royal ways, including everything you'd need to know for the royal ball, which I'm very much looking forward to."

"Me, too. Thank you."

Primus bid her goodnight and Maddie did the same. Sarayah assured Maddie everything would be fine before Maddie went back to her room. Only for her to bump into Selena again. Selena dropped her staff in the process. 

"Sorry, Miss Serena," Maddie said curtsying.

"Selena. Why can't you..." Selena went to pick up her staff when she noticed her new amulet, "Your amulet."

"Isn't it lovely? The King gave it to me. Well, good night!" Maddie walked away.

"She has the Amulet of Avalor! But not for long..." Selena said grinning.

Selena walked back to her workshop where her pet raven, Diaval was waiting for her. Selena put down a book on her desk and started to look through it while Diaval sat on her shoulder.

"Oh, how could I have missed it? After all these years, I can't believe the Amulet of Avalor was right under my nose," she flipped through the book until she landed on the page that showed Maddie's amulet, "Yes. Now, all I have to do is pry it from the princess and I'll finally have the power to take over the kingdom!"

Selena chuckled to herself while Diaval cawed. Maddie got ready for bed, thinking now she was ready to be a Princess. She lay down in between her pillows only to fall through the middle. She got back up and turned her oil lamp down. She decided to sleep at the window instead of the bed.