Disclaimer: The Fox and the Hound is the property of Daniel P. Mannix and Walt Disney Studios, not mine.

The Next Political Dynasty: I'm glad someone else cried, I was bawling when I was describing the death scene and Copper's eulogy. And bawled while writing the dedications, I swear. Be prepared to do more crying later on, trust me.

SunRise19: I know, everything must die sadly, and things always get worse b4 getting better! Keep reading!

Anonymous but Impressed: Yeah, it was a lot more depressing than I had planned out for it to be, but I guess that's good in drama. More teary material ahead!

Tonyboy: I know, I totally love that dog! Heh heh, have I got a surprise for all of you guys, so if you keep on reading the story, you'll find out what it is!!!

Forever Young: Sorry, what's "sporatic" mean? Did I even spell that right? Whatever it means, hope you keep reading and thanks for reviewing!

Cathy: You weren't imagining it, he did play a small part in back to the future 3, as one of the guys that hung out in the saloon all day. I'm sorry about your dog too, I completely understand. I have wondered why we didn't get my dog new kidneys, but we just didn't have the money for it back then. Hm, I'm not telling you if Ace'll die or not, you'll have to keep reading to find out!

The Fox and the Hound 3: The Next Generation

Part Two: The Older Years

Chapter Seventeen: Heaven Help Me

It had been one week since Chief's funeral on the farm, but it was obvious that it was taking its toll. Amos was still rather depressed over the loss of a dog that he'd had for almost ten years. Copper felt odd not having a "superior" to get advice from, and Belle felt awkward with Copper acting so quiet all the time. Beulah was attempting to get over it all, since she hated how grievous everyone was acting. Ace was trying as well, since he felt it his duty to keep the family from falling apart. Typical big brother behavior.

Smoky, on the other hand, felt like the world had come crashing down on his head. He hadn't spoken to anybody since he heard the news that Uncle Chief wasn't coming back. Copper had feared this behavior from his youngest son, but he wasn't sure on how to approach the matter so he decided that perhaps he would eventually get over it.

He didn't. In fact, Smoky was completely heartbroken. As a pup, he thought he had lost him once because of that stupid mistake he had made on making he and his siblings wander out into the forest and getting kidnapped. As a result, Chief ended up getting knocked unconscious for almost a day and poor Smoky thought he had somehow managed to kill him.

Remembering the pain he felt when he thought the supposed death of his uncle was on his shoulders, Smoky choked back a sob. He couldn't allow himself to cry in front of the family. Everybody was sad enough as it was without having to deal with his emotions.

It's all my fault, the black-and-tan hound thought to himself as he stared mindlessly at the open field. You died because of me. Not right away, but you died later on because of what I had done. I got us pups kidnapped, you came to rescue us, and you got whacked in the head. I had thought it killed you, but no, the blow must not have taken effect right away. It must have taken a few months for your brain to finally malfunction because of it. That's why you died. The Master or the widow woman didn't tell us how you died, but I figured it out as soon as the news came out. Heaven help me, I am so sorry. I wish I could somehow redeem myself, gain forgiveness for this sin.

Smoky closed his eyes, unable to look into the field any longer, and tears rolled down his face just as it had done when he was in that pen at the warehouse he and his siblings had been transported to so many months ago.

Thinking about those hours in the warehouse, he suddenly remembered the two fox cubs that had been there with them the entire time—Swift and Autumn. Oh he remembered how he and Swift fought, each blaming the other for what had happened and being so prejudice against one another. Eventually, they became friends after they got over their ego problems and when Smoky, in an unusual act of mercy, saved Swift from getting hit by one of the "bad guys". The hound wondered whatever became of the fox family after they said their good-byes.

Swift grabbed one of his little brothers by the scruff of the neck just when the little rascal was about to bite into a mushroom. The little cub glared up at his "babysitter" when he had been refused from eating his new discovery.

"Swift, put me down, I just want to taste it," the cub whined.

"Blaze, how many times do I have to say it," Swift began, his mouth full of cub. "You can't go eating everything you find. You don't know what's poisonous and what's not. And that mushroom happens to be poisonous."

Blaze was a little shocked that he knew this, but he kept his trap shut and continued glaring. He hated it when he wasn't allowed to do anything he wanted.

Tod and Vixey had Swift and Autumn the first time they tried to start a family. Whenever those two got a little older, the couple gave birth again—this time to four cubs instead of just two, Blaze being one of them.

"Looks like we got the six cubs that you wanted, Vixey," Tod had teased whenever the last of the four cubs had been born, remembering that she had said she wanted six cubs on the day they had met. And now that those four were older, Autumn and Swift had their paws full trying to help keep them out of trouble.

"I can't wait until I start a family," Autumn would say as she would pull out a thorn from one of their little paws. Swift would always laugh and say something along the lines of "You're insane, I never want a family now."

And he still felt that way as he carried Blaze back to his three sisters. Poor little guy, having to deal with three girls! And he thought he had it bad whenever it was just him and Autumn!

"Heaven help me, if this babysitting business doesn't kill me, I don't know what will!"

Okay, so Smoky's wanting redemption and Swift has four little rascals to put up with on a daily basis. And just how am I going to tie all this together? You'll find out, but only if you keep reading!