Author's notes: I hope the last chapter wasn't too painful to get through though I didn't mention it last chapter I would be honored if you could give me some constructive feedback as I am new to writing and posting on fanfiction.

Chapter. 2

Well …... I've avenged my ma and pa, and uncle and in an odd type of way uncle Arthur and the rest of the old gang; I think about all of them and those old times and how the gang all treated me, Hosea teaching me and mama to read, Dutch would make sure Mr. Strauss would give me regular checkups to make sure I was healthy, and uncle Arthur taking me fishing.

It's odd towards the end of Pa's life he worked so hard to give me a normal life and raise me to be better than the life we had led previously and how it all turned out; me becoming an outlaw just him and Arthur I know they would all be ashamed but also I think they would understand why I did what I did...at least I hope so.

Anyways to get off a sour topic I've decided to start keeping a journal, Arthur and my Pa both kept journals I might as well too; though I'll admit that Pa couldn't draw nearly as well as Arthur.

After I returned from Mexico and scoped out some of the settlements on the way back home and didn't see any wanted posters of me or see that local law was up in arms, I figured I could go see Breechers Hope one last time as I have decided to sell it to Ms. McFarlane for a very fair price I know they could use the extra pasture land, besides their nothing but pain there for me.

Considering I haven't noticed any notoriety come my way...yet, and any law that is coming for me probably would've figured I stayed in Mexico or headed further west.

I am going to retrace the gang's old footsteps and landmarks in Pa's and Arthur's journals and see what changed and what is still around. I am fortunate to have a fair bit of money from the sale of the ranch plus some that Mama had squirreled away for a college fund for me to be some lawyer or doctor or some damn thing...boy would she be furious right now.

Jack stuffed his journal back in his satchel and got up from the tree he'd been leaning on, and walked over to Fitz who was currently searching for a particularly succulent piece of grass to munch on, and saddled up to continue his pilgrimage.

He had just passed through Strawberry and stopped and rested just off the trail, Jack was surprised how little Strawberry had changed but how much could a town shoved between a mountain draw and a relatively large stream grow after all?

Jack was going to explore some spots in and around big valley there were several entries in his father's and Arthur's journals about the area. The trail soon opened and Jack had to agree big valley was astonishingly beautiful; Blue and purple wildflowers and green grass as far as the eye could see and a small babbling creek running through the middle of the field the grizzlies providing the backdrop, a couple of Bucks could be seen fighting in the distance the clacks of the butting antler's echoing off the aforementioned mountains.

As Jack and Fitz were going down the trail Fitz's ears perked up and the horse started tossing his head and rearing in distress. Jack was trying to calm the animal when he heard the telltale crack of gunfire and spurred Fitz forward to investigate.

As the gunfire drew nearer Jack saw a man in possibly the strangest outfit Jack had ever seen. The man had ginger hair was in his late twenties to mid-thirties and was wearing a checkered blue knit sweater over a white round collared shirt with a blue necktie, high-waisted and belt-looped khaki green tweed golf pants, argyle socks, and brown-and-white spectator shoes.

The man was hiding behind the corner of a wood cabin just outside of Strawberry, and three unknown bandits were flinging bullets toward the man. One of the bandits noticed Jack and Pointed his gun at him.

"This ain't none of your business cowboy" the bandit sneered. I really hate that name, Jack thought. "Well, partner if you're pointing a gun in my face that makes it my business". Jack's world flashed gold as he pulled his Schofield and sent a forty-four-caliber round in between the eyes.

The other two bandits spun towards Jack after they heard the shot only to be hit with bullets themselves. With the bandits dispatched the oddly dressed man stepped out from the cabin.

"Gee, sport thanks for the spot with these hoods," the man said appreciatively. The aspiring gunslinger blinked owlishly "Huh". The ginger-haired man "Thanks for the help friend".

"Oh, no problem partner" The strange man stepped towards him with his hand extended to Jack and he saw he had a birthmark over one of his eyes. "Francis Sinclaire Mac pleasure to meet you Mr..." Jack took the man's hand and shook it "Jack Marston good to meet you".

"Likewise, sport now listen I've got to fly but I want to give you something for your effort, this little gem has helped me out of a few jams in the past but if you want to use it you have to take it to one of these rock carvings in this notebook.

Francis handed Jack a necklace with a strange shiny black rock attached and a notebook with several rock carvings. Jack looked at the items oddly "How would these help me in a bind"? Francis looked at the young outlaw and smirked "Trust me just put the necklace on the craving and you'll see; however, be wary of these four I haven't used them yet". Jack looked at the carvings and one in particular stood out, it was two crossed axes surrounded by reefed rings.

"Uh well thanks I guess, say where is this carving here?" Jack gestures to the axe carving. Francis looked at the carving and looked at Jack and said it was at an old tomb in the Roanoke area but like I said I'd avoid that one; even if I haven't used it" Francis replied in a warning.

"Alright-alright I hear your partner" Jack raised his hands in a placating manner. Francis nodded "alright cowpoke I'll see you around".

Jack waved goodbye and mounted his horse, his mind buzzing from the odd events that had unfolded.

A few days later

Jack and Fitz were riding down the path leaving Valentine towards Roanoke Forest despite Francis's warning Jack couldn't shake his curiosity about the necklace and the odd rock carving and he decided to try and find the ancient tomb. A few hours of riding later and Jack was in the Roanoke Forest and he had just located the tomb as the sun was beginning to set so the road that was nearby was relatively empty.

The young man hopped down from his saddle and took out his lantern and walked down the slope with Fitz following behind him to the center slab where a skeleton was laying over the carving he was looking for. Jack reached into his satchel and took out the necklace and placed it in the middle of the reefed crossed axe carving and ...nothing happened

Jack chuckled at the situation "Of course nothing happened, I was being a damn fool". Suddenly the surrounding woods became deathly quiet and Fitz started braying and rearing in agitation. Jack looked back to the meteor necklace and carving, both shimmering with energy, in fact, the whole area seemed to thrum with energy. The young man looked at the sky with growing unease as a once clear night filled with angry dark clouds and booming thunder and crackling lightning.

Suddenly a streak of lightning came down and stuck the carving mere feet in front of Jack. The light from the strike was blinding and the force was so great it threw Jack to the ground knocking him unconscious. When the flash subsided Jack, the meteor necklace, and Fitz were nowhere to be found.

When Jack Marston regained consciousness, he looked around and saw a lush green forest and was relieved he thought he was still in Roanoke until he looked at the sky ….and saw a broken moon.

If you have made it this far I hope you've enjoyed it so far. I feel the story gets a bit clunky in the fight and transition scenes but I'm not sure how to improve them. either way, our boy has made it to remnant stay tuned for the next chapter