A fire warrior flew down and grabbed the salamander and the jar.
"This salamander escaped from a pond in the Jade Emperor's garden," he explained. "The jar belongs to Laozi, but the salamander stole it. I'll bring them both back." The warrior flew back up into the clouds.
"Wow," Roxy said.
People ran over.
"Thank you for getting rid of the demon!" a woman said. "We live in a village near the mountain. Please join us for a feast."
Bajie was drooling. "Yum—noodles, vegetables, and dumplings!"
"We can finally have our picnic," Mara said happily.
"Watch this." Bajie lifted a bowl of noodles and dumped them into his mouth. Gulp!
"Bajie!" Wujing said. "You should be ashamed!"
Bajie let out a huge burp, and Mara snorted.
"I have a hard time being good too," Jack said to Wukong. "I can never sit still at school."
Wukong grinned. "I got in big trouble with my teacher, Subodhi, a long time ago. You should try meditating—it helps me to stay calm."
Wukong showed Jack how to close his eyes and breathe slowly. Suddenly Jack felt himself floating, and his eyes flew open.
"Whoa!" Jack said. "I'm flying—like Rocket Girl!"
"It's magic!" Wukong laughed and lowered Jack back down.
"Roxy," Terrell asked quietly, "is this the world where you were when you were missing?"
Roxy nodded. "I was stuck here fighting that demon for a while."
"I wish I could have helped you," Terrell said.
"I don't think you could have helped, Terrell. The demon was really powerful."
"Excuse me, Rocket Girl," Wujing interrupted. "Can you teach me how to shoot fire from my eyes before you leave?"
"I can try." As Roxy and Wujing wandered away from the table, Terrell let out a deep sigh.
The Tang Monk sat down beside him. "What's wrong?"
"I want to help Rocket Girl, but I don't have any super powers," Terrell said.
"I don't have super powers either," the Tang Monk said. "But that doesn't mean I can't help my friends. Wukong, Bajie, and Wujing committed terrible crimes long ago. Now I'm helping them to be good and earn forgiveness. I'm sure you'll eventually find a way to help your friend."
"I hope so." Terrell nodded, but he still felt uncertain. He'd tried to help Roxy many times before.
At last it was time for the Tang Monk and his companions to continue their journey. Wukong opened the portal.
"Good-bye!" everyone said.
Roxy smiled at Wukong. "Be good!"
"Hey, guys!" Roxy found her friends in Metro City Park.
Jack raised an eyebrow. "How did you know we were here?"
Roxy gulped. "Oh no," she thought. "What should I say?"
"I texted her," Terrell blurted out. "Yeah, I talked to Roxy earlier, and she said she was away, visiting family. She just got back, so I told her to come and meet us here."
Roxy nodded. "Yep, that's right!" She shot Terrell a look that silently said, "thank you."
A big smile formed across Terrell's face.
"Roxy," Mara said. "We have a huge story to tell you."
Jack nodded excitedly. "You won't believe what you missed!"