We're coming to the big part...


"99...100!" Naruko chirped, having finished doing push-ups with Hinata sitting criss-cross on her back. The Hyuuga Princess got off her girlfriend as Naruko stretched, showing off her tanned abs dripping with sweat, causing Hinata to blush and shyly look away.

"You guys certainly are having fun over there." Joked Kiba as he was reclining on the couch, texting Kiki while Sakura was bench pressing said couch with Sasuke checking her progress. Lee was currently running all over Beach City while on his hands and Chouji was on a date with Jenny. Everyone else was doing their own thing.

"FEELINGS~!" Hidan sang while taking his ritualistic blood shower to prove his loyalty to Jashin. Kakuzu was counting money as usual and Kisame was tending to Samehada like a pet owner coddling their pet. Konan was visiting Mayor Dewey for coffee and Deidara was practicing his art with Sasori.

"So, how's Steven doing? I heard he and his Dad are working on a new album based on what happened with Lapis." Fuu said as she was aimlessly flying around in circles. Gaara was looking out the window into the night sky as it reflected off the ocean.

"Are you alright, Gaara?" Rin asked as she was doing some crocheting. The Sand Nin perked up slightly before letting out a deep sigh and resuming his gaze towards the sea.

"You miss Lapis Lazuli, don't you?" Utakata said as he cleaned his bubble pipe. Bee was sitting next to him, writing ideas for a new rap in his notepad.

"How could you guess?"

"Besides me, who knows what your thinking?" Shukaku spoke inside Gaara's mindscape. Rasa, Gaara's father, and the Fourth Kazekage nodded in agreement.

"I can attest to the beast's words as well, Gaara."

"Shut up, father."

Before Gaara could continue his silent pondering, a loud noise suddenly blared through the Ninja House. Everyone instinctively covered their ears in shock as they looked around for the source of the noise.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THE EAR BLEEDING! IF IT KEEPS GOING, BEE IS LEAVING!" Bee cried.

"IT'S COMING FROM THE TEMPLE!" Rin cried and the Jinchuuriki headed over to see the Crystal Gems freaking out over a Gem device rattling and making the noise. Steven soon came in, covering his ears.

"What's happening?!"

"It's the Wailing Stone!" Pearl cried with her ears covered.

"It won't shut up!" Amethyst sobbed in agony as Garnet quickly formed her gauntlet and punched the top of the Wailing Stone, causing the sounds to cease. However, just as she removed her hand, the noise kicked back up again.

"DAMMIT! WHAT IN THE NAME OF JASHIN IS GOING ON?!" Hidan shouted as he barged in wearing nothing but a towel and soaked in blood.

"Stand back!" Pearl said as she marched to the Wailing Stone and bubbled it. The noise once more stopped as everyone hesitantly uncovered their ears.

"Huh? It worked! Now we can-"

Before Pearl could finish, the bubble inflated and popped from the noise building up inside, once more causing the Wailing Stone's cries to echo through the Crystal Temple. With no other option, Steven ran over to it and put his arm through the hole. All was silent...until he let out a goat bleat as the noise went through him.

"I don't think that's good!" Naruko yelped while Pearl gasped worriedly. Garnet, however, walked up to Steven, removed his arm from the stone and stuffed a pillow through the hole and then put all the cushions on the couch on top of it for good measure and sat Steven on the pile gently.

"I don't understand, that thing has laid dormant since we found it."

"Well, Square Fro Mama, it seems it chose now to start some drama!" Bee rapped with a wink to Garnet, who gave a small smirk as Yugito smacked her friend over the head.

"Now's not the time, Bee!"

"I haven't heard a Wailing Stone activate since we used them for the rebellion, and I've never heard it sound like that!" Pearl said with a befuddled expression as she clenched Kakashi's hand.

"Well, what do you think it's making that racket for?" The Copy Nin asked.

Garnet was the one to speak up. "Someone is trying to send us a message."

"But who? We've rounded up all the Wailing Stones on Earth, and we're not sending this message to ourselves." Pearl then developed a thinking expression before turning to Amethyst. "Unless... Amethyst?! Is this a prank?!"

"No way! I want it to stop! I don't like it!" The Short Gem cried while clutching her hair viciously. Deidara squatted down and rubbed her shoulders as she relaxed and let out a content purr.

"Good girl..." The Bomber Nin said while stroking her head for good measure.

"If it's not coming from Earth, then a Gem must be sending this message from space." Garnet deduced

"Is that what some Gems sound like?" Steven asked curiously as Pearl shook her head.

"No, no, we should be hearing a voice. Maybe this signal is too advanced for the Wailing Stone to process. That would explain the distorted audio."

Hearing those words, Steven's eyes lit up. "Audio? My daddy-o knows audio!"

"Greg-San?" Hinata asked as Lee kicked down the door with a pair of spiked nunchucks in hand.

"I HEARD THE SUSPICIOUS NOISE WHILE ON MY NIGHTLY LAPS! WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?!" The Youthful Nin cried while skillfully spinning his weapons around.

"I think we should get Greg before the rest of us come in late with crazier weapons."


Everyone had come to Greg, who was currently unpacking his van. "I can't believe it, you need help with sound stuff!? You've come to the right guy! Ah-ha!"

The man whipped out a microphone with a giant foam cover glowing light blue

"The Lubitz Cardioid Condenser 680! It's got warm tone without too much Top End."

"Uh, plus it's got a big honking sponge thing." Amethyst pointed out but Greg just grinned.

"I know, isn't it awesome!?"

Greg removed the couch cushion from the Wailing Stone, causing the noise to once more emit, making everyone cover their ears again. Greg quickly plugged the microphone into the hole of the stone and began getting to work on adjusting the audio.

"Now I'm going to add some reverb and some low octave effects. I'm also adding some fuzz 'cause who couldn't use more fuzz? Now if I directly input the Wailing Stone and put it through a flanger, we might get what you're looking for."

"Flangers aside, do you really think a signal like this is compatible with your analog devices?" Pearl asked skeptically.

"Don't worry Dad. It'll work!" Steven assured his father, using a voice modifier to auto-tune his voice, causing some of the ninjas to get a good laugh in.

"So glad we've learned about this world's technology, huh Kakashi?" Rin said to Kakashi, who nodded.

Greg then took a deep breath as he finished setting things up. "Well, here goes nothing."

As soon as he turned on the flanger, the noise came loose through the audio devices, causing everyone to be blown back.

"This is even worse!" Amethyst screeched while her pupils began spinning.

"I'm sorry!" Greg apologized as Bee moved over to help him.

"Audio Daddy-O! We got your back, Yo!"

"Thanks!"

Greg and Bee proceeded to configure the audio equipment further, and the noise abates to an ambient-like sound.)

"Oh thank God..." Naruko groaned as she uncovered Hinata's ears and removed Kurama's tails from her own ears.

"It sounds like... music."

Greg perked up as he heard it as well. "Yeah! that's real nice!"

"Whoa, Mama! Turn up the Melodrama!" Bee rapped as he and Greg bobbed to the music being made before Pearl spoke up.

"But it's not supposed to be music. It's supposed to be a message!"

Greg winced and then tuned the audio equipment, causing the noise to change.

"Now it almost sounds like a voice!" Steven pointed out. Greg concentrated as he tried to adjust the set more but then the system short-circuited and smoke began emitting from his van's engine.

"Oh great." Greg groaned in disappointment.

"What's happening? where's the signal?" Pearl snapped, getting agitated as Kakashi placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Easy, Pearl."

Greg inspected the damage. "Uh, looks like the van battery couldn't handle all this."

Pearl sighed "I had a feeling this wouldn't work. There's just no way that Greg's equipment can interface with our ancient Gem technology."

"Ah... Come on Pearl, you can't be ready to give up yet." Steven protested in defense of his father.

"Look, we just got to keep trying. Sure we don't have the latest and greatest Gem tech, but-" Greg tried to say but Garnet removed the microphone from the Wailing Stone and immediately plugged it back up with the couch cushion.

"It's okay Greg, you tried. Back to the temple. We'll figure something else out."

With that said, Garnet headed off as Pearl and Amethyst followed. Bee gave Greg a reassuring pat on the back as he and the other Ninjas followed after them as well.

"You did all you could, Universe-San. That's the important thing/" Hinata said gently as she left.

Steven was the only one who didn't join them. "Ah, come on y'all!"

Greg looked down in disappointment. He picked up his guitar and sat down on the beach, facing the sea.

"I really blew it, huh?"

Steven looked sadly at his Dad and walked over to him as he began playing a song.

I could have tamed you, I could have shown

That I could depose you from your loud throne

But in the end, I wasn't good enough

I just showed the Gems that I ain't got the stuff

Oh-oh, Wailing Stone!

I tried so hard to fly, but I was thrown

Oh-oh, Wailing Stone!

I gotta tell the Gems 'cause they should know

Have a little, have a little, have a little faith in me!

I just wanted to help. You know, I

Have a little, have a little, have a little expertise!

I know it's not much

But if it could come in handy, I'd wanna be there

I think so highly of you, it just isn't fair

That you have so little faith

"Lovely tunes, Universe-San."

Greg and Steven turned to see Gaara there, having decided to resume his sea-gazing from outside.

"Eh, I don't know, kid. I mean, sound and stuff like this, this stuff's my whole world, and if I can't figure this out then, maybe it isn't even sound."

Steven looked at his dad sympathetically "Dad, if it isn't sound then, what else could it be?"

Steven began looking around Greg's equipment before suddenly noticing a portable television and clapped his cheeks in shock as he turned to his father.

"DAAAAADDD!"

"I'm not that far away from you, buddy."

"What if it's..."

"Some other thing I'm not good at?" Greg said as Gaara flicked him in the head.

"Don't sell yourself short, Universe-San."

Steven quickly pointed to his eyes. Greg and Gaara looked confused before the former perked up.

"Oh my days, it's 'video'!"

"Impressive deduction..." Rasa mused inside Gaara's mindscape.

"We have to tell the Gems! Video!" Steven cheered as he ran to the Beach House. Gaara quickly picked him and Greg up in a pair of sand arms before flying on his sand cloud back to the temple.

The group then barged into the living room, startling everyone.

"I just want to help, have some faith in-" Greg then realized he was facing away from everyone and quicky affixed his position as he approached them.

"I know my audio equipment seems like a pile of Earth junk to y'all but-"

"Greg. It's okay." Garnet spoke, believing he was self-deprecating himself but the man gave a serious expression.

"No, it's not! You guys don't give up on anything, except for me. Come on... it's not like I can make it any worse!"

The Gems and Ninjas looked at each other as Rin chimed in.

"He's got a point, you know."


Everyone returned to Greg's van. Pearl inspected the engine with Sasuke and Kiba while Garnet was holding a pair of jumper cables, connecting to the engine.

"Really wish Shikamaru was still with us..." Kiba mumbled.

"Okay, go for it, Garnet."

Garnet began generating electrical currents from her hands to jump-start the van engine.

"Gem Lighting! Wanna check out if you can try it in fighting?" Bee swooned.

Pearl then turned to Amethyst, who was in the driver's seat. "Okay Amethyst, try it now."

"I've never started a car with a key before." She turned the key in the handle and the van spluttered to life. "Hahaha, that's way easier!"

Pearl shut the engine hood "The battery is ready to go."

"The Wailing Stone is ready!" Steven said as everyone regrouped

"Ready with the video cord, Steven?" Greg asked his son, who nodded in response.

"Ready."

Steven plugged the cord into the TV. Greg started tuning his equipment and static begins to play on the TV, emitting the strange noise.

"Is that it?" Pearl asked skeptically, only to get a glare from some of the female ninjas, causing her to flinch as Kakashi shook his head.

Greg adjusted the set further, the imagery on the TV becomes less fuzzy. The Crystal Gems and Ninjas kept watching in suspension.

"Wish I could've brought some popcorn for this."

"Shut up, Hidan."

"I hear something!" Steven said as he leaned in.

"Me too!" Naruko chirped in agreement.

Greg grit his teeth as he kept adjusting. "Come on!"

The imagery on the TV started becoming clearer. Everyone looked closer and suddenly, Gaara pushed through as he recognized who it was on the screen. Steven was just as shocked as he joined at the Sand Nin's side.

"Steven! Gaara!"

"Lapis!" The two boys cried.

Greg was smiling proudly to himself. "I did it!"

"I can't believe my flippin' eyes!" Pearl exclaimed in shock as Kakashi and Rin chuckled at her choice of words, causing her to blush cerulean.

"Everyone, listen up!" Garnet ordered.

"Shut your traps!" Sakura barked and everyone did so, listening in on what Lapis had to say.

"I hope you're able to hear this. There's a Gem looking for you, she even knew your name. I don't know how! I didn't tell her, I swear! She's on her way to Earth, and she's not alone. Steven, Homeworld is not the way it used to be. Everything here is so advanced! I can't even understand it. There's no way anything on Earth can stand up to it. Please, don't put up a fight, It'll only lead to devastation!-"

The video suddenly cuts off, ending the transmission.

"It's Peridot. She must be talking about Peridot." Pearl spoke.

"Peridot...?" Lee asked, remembering the Green Gem.

Amethyst began freaking out, Pearl soon joining her. "She's coming for us!"

"Lapis, she sounds so unhappy..." Steven whispered to himself before turning to see Gaara clenching his fists, sand billowing around him in a circle.

"Gaara, calm down..." Naruko whispered to her brother, the markings of Shukaku starting to form on his skin as his teeth became fangs. Sasuke readied a Chidori in case he needed to take the Sand Nin down before he went out of control.

"What are we going to do?!" Amethyst yelled

"Woo! we did it." Garnet whistled.

"What are you talking about, G?" Sakura asked, using the affectionate nickname she had recently come up with for the Afro Gem.

"We did it. We got the message."

She then approached Greg and shook his hand gently with a look of gratefulness behind her visor.

"Thank you, Greg. We would not have received this message without your help."

Greg began tearing up, touched by her words. "You're...You're welcome."

"My dad is...the best!" Steven cheered, speaking through a voice modulator.

"Oh my gosh, Steven's a robot! Help, I can't relate to my robot son!"

"My mind is the internet, I know every continuity mistake ever made on television."\

Everybody just had a good laugh but none of them noticed Gaara heading off, a distant look in his eyes. Naruko was the only one who noticed and moved to go after him before being stopped by Hinata.

"He needs space, Naru-Chan."

Gaara looked at his palm and clenched it tightly enough to draw blood.

"Lapis...I will find you...and I WILL rescue you...that is a promise."


Next Chapter: The Big Confrontation!

How will the Two-Part Season 1 Finale go since we have OP Ninjas? Don't worry, I have some ideas on how to work them out...

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!