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

The Next Political Dynasty: Very sad, oh please don't melt you have to read the rest of the story! sticks TNPD in a freezer to keep from melting Just kidding, lol, keep reading!

SunRise19: Yes, very sad, and we'll have to see if Smoky does go through with the revenge or not. Keep reading!

Anonymous but Curious: Like the slight change in your name, lol! Yeah I feel sorry for both of them too, but to me that just makes the whole story worth reading, which I hope you keep doing!

Frostbite: Thanks! Yeah, I always close my eyes during that part b/c I don't like watching Chief getting hit by the train. Why did Copper blame Tod? Read my songfic "No Way Out" and it kinda explains why he did. Keep reading!

Narfgirl: I know, but remember Swift's paw got cut up by a rock earlier so it would have taken him forever to get down there where Ace was. And yes, at least Blaze was rescued, that's the important thing. Keep reading!

Cathy: Yes, the strongest one dies, kinda ironic, huh? Keep reading!

The Fox and the Hound 3: The Next Generation

Part Two: The Older Years

Chapter Twenty-Two: Two Wooden Crosses

That evening was a dark and dreary one for the family. Twice in one week had they lost a family member. The two girls cried throughout the whole funeral procession as Ace was laid to rest beside where Chief had been buried only last week. Instead of one wooden cross, there were now two. Smoky stayed silent in his thoughts the entire time, and Copper was trying to ease his wife and daughter's misery. But Smoky was half paying attention to all of that.

Ace, his dear older brother, was gone. He had passed into the great beyond, that big Dog Kennel in the Sky. Would the suffering never end? Smoky already felt responsible for the prolonged death of Chief, but now Ace? But Ace's death wasn't his fault. He remembered quite clearly looking up and seeing the familiar face of Swift, that fox that he hadn't seen since childhood.

He hadn't liked Swift at first, and Swift didn't like him either, but Smoky had thought they had become friends that day they were rescued. So why did Swift have to go and kill his brother? And how could he have done it? Did he lead him to the railroad tracks just when the train was passing and then allow the engine to smash Ace?

Just thinking about how the situation could have happened made Smoky extremely angry. What on earth did Swift think he was doing? Ace was the one that had been nice to him as a pup, even defended him sometimes when Smoky lashed out at him. Smoky had even "saved" him from getting a beating from one of the kidnappers! Now he was regretting it.

Amos finally put the shovel down, looked sadly at the two mounds, then silently walked back towards the cabin. Belle and Beulah, unable to stand the depression any longer, went back to their barrels to calm down. Copper looked over at his remaining son and sighed. He knew how much those two had meant to him. He may have argued with Ace some, but he knew that he loved his brother, and darn well knew he loved Chief.

Knowing it would take time for Smoky to get over this shock, Copper turned away and went back to the rest of the family. Smoky continued to stare at the graves, trying to figure out how he could possibly survive this ordeal. First he killed Uncle Chief, and now Swift kills Ace. What on earth was a pup to do?

Wait a minute, he thought suddenly. Maybe this could be my chance to redeem myself for causing Uncle Chief's death. Since Swift killed my brother, it's pretty obvious that I must go after him. Once I avenge Ace's death, then I'll be forgiven for Uncle Chief's death. Heh, I'd be killing two birds with one stone: avenging Ace's death and getting forgiveness.

He looked up into the dark clouds that were looming overhead, and his mind was made up. In the morning, he would set off early into the forest . . . and hunt Swift down.

Tod couldn't believe this was happening. Swift had just told him about what had happened to Ace at the train tracks. It sounded remarkably like what had happened with Copper and himself such a long time ago. Chief had been chasing the fox along the tracks, got hit with the train, and although he had miraculously survived Copper had sworn revenge on the fox and in some way felt it would redeem himself for having caused the error in the first place.

"Well, son," Tod breathed at last. "Does Smoky know that it wasn't your fault?"

"I didn't talk to him. As soon as I heard him threaten me, I grabbed Blaze up and ran back home." He sighed deeply. "Dad, what am I going to do? If I remember Smoky, he will come after me."

Tod looked back at the den towards Vixey, Autumn, and the four cubs. He didn't want the girls to know what had happened, so he had sworn Blaze to secrecy. Besides, if Vixey knew about this, she would more than likely suffer a heart attack. He turned back to Swift.

"I honestly don't know, son," he answered his previous question. He didn't dare tell him about his own incident with a vengeful hunting dog.

"Well . . . I don't want the rest of the family getting involved. This is going to be between me and Smoky, that is if anything happens at all. Maybe I should leave for a while—"

"Hold it, you're not thinking about running from your problems are you?" Tod asked him. "That's not the way to handle it. You'll look even more guilty."

"Dad, I know, but I don't know what else to do. I'll go off on my own so that Smoky won't think to come near you guys. And then whatever happens, happens."

Tod didn't like this idea, but he realized that his son was old enough to make his own decisions and live with the consequences. He gave him a fatherly smile.

"Whatever you think is best. Good luck."

And with that, Swift turned tail and bolted into the forest . . . away from the family, and as far away from Smoky as he could get in one night. And as far as he could go on a very sore foot, thanks to a certain stupid rock. If only that rock hadn't been in the way, then perhaps Ace wouldn't have been the one risking his life to save Blaze, who was Swift's responsibility.

Maybe it is my fault after all, Swift thought glumly as he exited the lives of his family and into unknown dangers.

Uh oh, Smoky's wanting to go after Swift in revenge AND for redemption. And now Swift has done run off! What will happen?