Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with Over the Hedge OR Nyxy's fanfiction Brand New Eyes. I just love both of them and want them to be remembered and enjoyed by others, too. Obviously I'm not being paid anything to write this, it is just for fun.

Nyxy has posted permission to write fics based off her own, but I haven't been able to reach her and confirm. For now, I feel alright sharing this but if she changes her mind I will obviously take my writing here down.

Before I begin I'm going to assume that if you're reading this, you're familiar with the fanwork that this is an unofficial continuation of. If not, why read? The original is much better! That being said, I dislike the ending that was more recently posted and wrote this as a 'fix' if that makes sense.

Anyways a thank you to every one of you, and please feel free to write me either via review or message regarding this work (or if you're just lonely, LOL)

Love from Lacey

xxx

-Chapter One; an Introduction-

"And what happens after that?"

It was more of a demand than a question, the asker staring unblinkingly up at the teller of their favourite story with widened eyes.

"Yeah," another, softer voice joined in, "did you like, die?"

Rolling her eyes affectionately, Jade nudged RJ with a knowing smile. "I think it's your turn now, since there's a lot I don't remember. Being dead kinda messes with one's memory, you know."

The sets of eyes all turned their attention to him at once, and RJ appeared to be positively delighted by his very attentive audience.

"Hey, if you insist," he said, before dropping his voice to a dramatic whisper, "now kids, and you too Hammy, don't tell Verne about this, okay?"

The younger animals and hyper squirrel nodded in unison, knowing very well that Verne would find their story far too scary to be shared, even if it was all true.

"We promise."

Grinning, RJ cleared his throat and leaned in closer, beaconing the smaller animals into a makeshift circle as he began.

"Alright, then. After Jade left the campground, dark clouds rolled in, as it became a dark and stormy night..."

His speech was innturrupted by the aforementioned raccoon herself, who was less than pleased by the overly dramatic interpretation.

"Are you trying to make this sound like a bad B movie?"

RJ barely flinched. "It's called drama, Jaded Lady. You should know, you cause enough of it."

"Hmph!"

"Now, as I was saying, it was a dark and stormy night..."

xxx