This story is dedicated to my little sister.

Syd-syd, if you ever read this, thanks for always being there for me.

Your kindness, patience, and love have made me who I am today.

Chapter One

Brothers: Can't Live With Them...

"Ian, your friends are here for study group!" Laurel called up to her youngest son.

"Be right down, Mom!" the 16 year-old elf replied. It had been three months since the Lightfoot Brothers' adventure and things were looking up for Ian. He had become less introverted, he was getting out more, and he was getting better everyday at mastering the art of magic. His adventure proved that he had an inner warrior. Or was it a wizard.

Ian met his friends downstairs and they greeted each other with high fives and grins.

"Come on in guys." He led them into the living room. The four of them sat in there favorite spots. Sadalia and Althea on the sofa, Parthenope on the beanbag chair, and Ian took the living chair. They took out their English textbooks and began going over information they were told would be on their exam tomorrow. It was going pretty well until...

"Greetings, Iandore and his companions!" Ian's eyes widened in horror at his older brother's voice. All he could do at that moment, was run all possible embarrassing scenarios through his head. There were practically an infinite amount. Snapping back to the present, Ian quickly sneaked to the kitchen.

"Mom!" he half yelled, half whispered. "What is Barley doing home this early? You said he wouldn't be back til dark!"

"Oh I don't know, honey." Laurel said as she stirred the potato soup they were having for dinner. "He probably finished his errands early so he could come home and spend time with you. You know he's going to Quest Con tomorrow. And he'll be gone all day." Ian looked over and saw Barley showing his friends the Quests of Yore board game he was obsessed with. He was going over the entire game despite how long and tedious the rules were. The looks on their faces showed extreme boredom.

"Can't you just...send him to his room or something?" Ian begged.

"Ian, Barley is an adult." Laurel glanced at her eldest and noticed him acting out a knight battling a dragon. He was playing both parts. She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Even though he may not act like it sometimes." Turning her attention back to Ian, she put her hand on his shoulder and smiled. "Sure he's got his quirks, but he is the big brother. And that's something that will never change."

"But, Mom, we need to study for the big exam tomorrow. We could talk about Quests of Yore some other time."

"Honey, Barley loves you. And he's going to college next year. You need to spend time with him while you have the chance."

"I guess so." Ian sighed in defeat. As he turned around, he was startled to see Parthenope standing right in front of him.

"Hey, Iandore?" Ian shook his head.

"Parthenope, that's not my real name. It's just a nickname my brother gave me. Please, just call me Ian."

"Um, ok, Ian. Sorry to bug you, but we better get going. It's 7:30, and I still gotta help my dad organize his study when I get home." Ian glanced at his smart watch.

"Wow you're right. How'd it get so late?"

"Well, see you at school tomorrow." His friends said their goodbyes and left. Ian knew why they really wanted to leave. Sure, it was getting late but, they usually stayed until 8:00. No, this was Barley's fault.

(o_o)

"What do mean, 'my fault'?" Barley asked defensively.

"I mean, if you hadn't come home early to give my friends a lecture on Quests of Bore,"

"It's Quests of Yore, and I just thought if I could get them interested, you would be interested."

"You still think I would ever play that stupid game with you? Is that all you care about?" Barley sighed and took a seat.

"Of course not, Ian. Look, I just want to spend time with you."

"We already went on a quest together, what more do you want?"

"I want to know you. So when I go to college, I'll always remember what you were like."

"Well who could forget you, Barley?"

"I don't think I like the way you said that." Barley said, confused. But Ian didn't hear him.

"You can go wherever you want, do whatever you want, you spend all your money and time on things that don't matter. If I were you, man, I'd have no expectations except passing the college entry exam! That would be so much easier than what I've got going on right now."

"Wait a minute," Barley said standing up. "You seriously think it's easy being me?"

"I know it is, Barley! You've got it made."

"Well, I happen to know that you're the one who has it easy." Barley countered.

"Oh, really?" Ian glared, nodding mockingly.

"Yeah, I do." his brother glared and nodded back.

"How so?" Barley and Ian began closing the space between them.

"Well, for one you can control magic."

"I knew it! Your so jealous!"

"Oh so, wishing that I can control magic like my brother is me being jealous?"

"Yes, Barley. That is a prime example of jealousy."

"Well, you're still a sophomore in high school. That's not as hard as being an adult with a job!"

"I'm taking college courses this year, so yes, it is. Besides, you work at the comic book store as a sales rep! How hard can that be?" As they continued to bicker, the wizard staff began to spark. But, they were so engrossed in their argument they didn't notice.

"I'm supposed to be the big brother! You're supposed to respect me!"

"Oh yeah? Well sometimes I wish we weren't brothers at all!" Suddenly, what looked like blue mist began to fill Ian's bedroom. It surounded the elves, grabbing their attention.

"What's happening?" Ian gasped with fear.

"I...I don't know." Barley stated trying not to show that he was just as afraid. The mist started to swirl, around them, faster and faster.

"Holy emeralds! Look at your hands! Ian pointed. Barley looked and immediately lost his cool at that point.

"Their turning to dust! Oh no. Ian, your ears!" Ian reached up and felt his ears were also quickly dusting away. Soon the boys were both nothing but dust clouds. Then, like they saw with their father's spell, their dust began to reform them. Feet, legs, torsos, arms, heads, faces. But when they opened their eyes they were shocked at what they saw.

"Why do you look like me? Ian gasped. "And why do I sound like you?"

"Ian, is that you?" The Ian in front of him asked. Then a look of confusion crossed his face. "Did my voice just crack?"

"Barley?"

"Yeah? Erm, I mean, yeah? What the heck is wrong with my voice? Why do I sound like I just hit puberty?"

"You didn't. I...did." The two rushed to the mirror.

"Oh no!"

"Holy emeralds! Barley! We've...we've...

"We've switched bodies!"

Hope you guys like my new Onward story. Remember to Read, Review, Follow, and Favorite. Read you around fellow Questers!