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An early episode of Steven Universe, "Watermelon Steven" (S1:E34), revealed a new power of Steven's: to create living, semi-intelligent, autonomous creatures from watermelon seeds (plants).

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  • These creatures were affectionately called "Watermelon Stevens." The gems fought with them until one of the creatures "Baby Melon" sacrificed itself to stop the battle between the Gems and the Watermelon Stevens.

  • Steven sent the creatures away to have their own lives elsewhere.

My son's question is: What sustains them? Steven's (Rose's) magic made them but why do they keep moving?

  • Are they gem creatures like the ones that get bubbled in the basement of the temple?

  • Most magical things stop after the Gems stop concentrating on them, so why are the Watermelon Stevens able to keep moving and even create new versions of themselves?

  • Why are the Watermelon Stevens so kind and decent (except when they went to war against Malachite)?

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  • The primary question is in bold. All of the other questions should be able to be answered within the primary answer without too much deviation. Their behavior is inherent to their nature and the question at large.
    – Thaddeus Howze
    Jun 17, 2016 at 19:20
  • Fair enough. I shall bow to your judgement given my cluelessness.
    – Valorum
    Jun 17, 2016 at 19:25
  • 5
    Only the most brilliant children's show EVER.
    – Thaddeus Howze
    Jun 17, 2016 at 20:54
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    The episode "Lars and the Cool Kids" (S01E14) features a strange, moving moss created/modified by Rose; it is still alive and kicking 13 years after Rose's death, though it went a little wild. The moving thorn bushes in "An Indirect Kiss" (S01E24) could be another similar example.
    – lfurini
    Jun 18, 2016 at 6:12
  • @ThaddeusHowze When you say "Most magical things stop after the Gems stop concentrating on them" what are you referring to? The gems' weapons? Lapis' water clones? Something else?
    – lfurini
    Jun 18, 2016 at 10:51

2 Answers 2

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What sustains Watermelon Stevens?

Magic, of course!

OK, let me elaborate. We have seen more evidence of magical minions created by a Gem, some of them out of thin air and others by controlling existing creatures. Some examples are some of the corrupted gem's “offspring” (such as with the Centipeetle and the Crab), Rose's moss and bushes, and Holo-Pearls. Regarding both the corrupted gems' offspring and Holo-Pearls, they actually survive until they are poofed; and Rose's plants are seen active long after Rose's “death”.

So, with this evidence, it's safe to assume Watermelon Stevens work in the same way, remaining active until somebody kills them.

Most magical things stop after the Gems stop concentrating on them, so why are the Watermelon Stevens able to keep moving and even create new versions of themselves?

Not quite. The magic weapons do disappear after some time, but all magic beings we've seen so far continue existing on their own.

Why are the Watermelon Stevens so kind and decent (except when they went to war against Malachite)?

That would be because of Steven.

Remember that after the Watermelon Stevens attacked the Crystal Gems, Baby Melon sacrificed himself to end the disaster, and Steven tells them to go away until they understand what Baby Melon did.

Steven: Look at what you've done! You think I wanted this?! You should all be ashamed! He knew this is what it would take to calm your rage! ... He understood true loyalty.

Steven: Go! Think about what you've done! And don't come back until you understand what he did for me, for all of us!

(Steven Universe - S01E34 Watermelon Steven)

Since the Watermelon Stevens go away, we see that they did understand him, and as a result, the next time we see them, they're only aggressive towards Malachite, the real threat.

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We get to see the watermelons again in the later episode S3 E1 "Super Watermelon Island", where they even take a little plot role. That shows that you're right, the watermelons still exist.

We find a little bit more about how they were created in S4 E8 "Gem Harvest": Steven realizes that it was his healing spit that has animated the watermelons, and creates one more animated vegetable: a pumpkin that behaves like a dog, named Pumpkin. Pumpkin sticks around for future episodes, just like the watermelons.

From season 5 I suspect that we don't yet know everything about Steven's or Rose's healing powers, and Steven might not be in full control of them yet. A complete explanation of your question thus might not be possible.

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