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The Watermelon Stevens are a species of sentient watermelons accidentally created by Steven in "Watermelon Steven" and are the episode's main antagonists. They reappear once again in "Super Watermelon Island".
Appearance
The Watermelon Stevens' bodies are similar in physique and stature to Steven. Their heads are crowned with hemispherical rises that resemble Steven's hair. They have two black watermelon seeds for eyes and a jagged mouth. They have vertical, alternating medium and light green stripes on their bodies.
About
The Watermelon Stevens have been brought to life by Steven, who, without knowing he inherited Rose Quartz's phytokinesis ability, spits watermelon seeds outside of It's A Wash. Steven's saliva caused the seeds to develop into fully-formed sentient watermelons overnight, but they were immobile until later.
The flora Rose Quartz animated would act as her guardian, which is the same behavior the Watermelon Stevens exhibit toward Steven. Though initially docile, they become increasingly aggressive towards any possible "threats" to Steven, regardless of his commands.
History
"Watermelon Steven"
The Watermelon Stevens initially appeared to be inanimate, so Steven disposed of them by selling them to passers-by outside Funland. One of the watermelons was underdeveloped and smaller than the rest; Steven took a liking to it and dubbed it "Baby Melon". When Onion attempts to steal Baby Melon, Steven gives chase until Baby Melon suddenly moves, escaping Onion and reuniting with Steven. Realizing that all the other Watermelon Stevens must be alive, Steven recalls them, refunding his customers and taking back the Watermelons, who follow him. Ronaldo refuses to return a Watermelon and hits Steven with a spatula, which provokes an aggressive response from the Watermelons, who all start punching and kicking Ronaldo.
Steven returns to the Beach House to inform the other gems of the crisis. The gems accidentally provoke the Watermelons by pushing Steven back inside the house, and they fight. The gems destroy many Watermelons before the Watermelons hold them down by sheer numbers. Some Watermelons dig a hole in the ground for Amethyst, intending to bury her with a bouquet of flowers mercilessly.
Due to his lack of control over this new power, Steven cannot prevent the Watermelons Stevens' rampage. This inspires Baby Melon to sacrifice himself by punching Steven, diverting the Watermelon Stevens' attention away from the Crystal Gems, whom they were previously attacking. Upset, Steven tells them to go and not come back until they understand Baby Melon's sacrifice, and they comply. They were last seen walking deep into the ocean or along the beach, with some getting picked up by seagulls.
"Super Watermelon Island"
After the events of "Watermelon Steven", one of the two groups of Watermelon Stevens traveled across the ocean to Mask Island and colonized it. The Watermelon Stevens established an agrarian civilization; members of the community were assigned roles to contribute to the development of their village. Farmers grew Watermelon Stevens in a subsistence agriculture system. The infants were distributed to the Watermelon families and educated. They developed clothing, housing, farming and hunting utensils and even genetic derivatives; like watermelon chickens and dogs. Watermelon Stevens also seemed to have become capable of feeling emotion and gestural communication.
Steven entered the village by inhabiting the body of a Watermelon Steven using his powers of astral projection. In the center of a village, he observes an elderly Watermelon Steven lecturing to a group of watermelon infants about the large statue of Baby Melon erected in the village center. He is presumably a figure of importance in this Mask Island splinter group.
As Steven (in the form of a Watermelon Steven) is in the middle of this event, he is confused and does not put his finger on his nose, resulting in him being unknowingly chosen as the sacrifice. The other Watermelon Stevens draw a yellow star on his chest, put roses on his head, and place him in a chair, carrying him up to a cliff. At the edge of the cliff, Steven looks back at the watermelons who use body language to tell Steven to raise his arms in the pose of Baby Melon. He proceeds to, and Malachite rises out of the ocean. Malachite recognizes Steven and attacks him, causing him to wake up and inform the other Crystal Gems of these new events.
As Malachite continues her rampage, the Watermelon Stevens flee into a cave. Steven possesses another Watermelon Steven and observes Alexandrite fighting Malachite, though the latter gains the upper hand. He enters the cave and gives a speech to the Watermelons, rallying them to fight Malachite. They attack Malachite (who is crushing Alexandrite) with bows and arrows, spears and shields, catapults, wing gliders and their bare hands. Though they deal no damage to Malachite, who destroys some of the Watermelons, they do distract her from Alexandrite, allowing Malachite to be defeated.
Steven reveals himself to the Crystal Gems, who thank him and the Watermelons for their support. The Cluster causes an earthquake, and the gems reassure Steven as he returns to his body to take the drill to destroy the Cluster.
Derivatives
On Mask Island, the Watermelon Stevens created genetic derivatives of their species:
Dogs
A watermelon dog, also known as Melon Mutt, accompanies Steven when he possesses a Watermelon person using astral projection. The dog brings Steven to the village and stays by his side throughout his adventure on the island. Watermelon dogs have four stumpy legs, a rotund body and horizontal alternating medium and light green stripes on their bodies.
Horses
Watermelon horses and carts are utilized for transportation of goods on Mask Island. To clarify, the cart is a separate piece of equipment made using what appear to be sticks lashed together with organic rope. They are seen being used to deliver infant Watermelons to a Watermelon family. Watermelon horses have leafy green manes and bodies with horizontal alternating medium and light green stripes.
Chickens
Three watermelon chickens are seen outside the dwelling of a Watermelon family. Due to lack of limbs aside from a torso, they are only capable of rocking back and forth in place. One of the SU animators on Twitter confirmed that to the Watermelon people they do taste like chicken. Watermelon chickens also have the signature watermelon stripes.
Relationships
Steven
In "Watermelon Steven", the Watermelon Stevens protect Steven when he is faced with any potential danger. In "Super Watermelon Island", Steven possesses a Watermelon Steven in his sleep. The other Watermelon Stevens do not appear to notice any difference in Steven's Watermelon, but they pick him to be a sacrifice for Malachite. When Steven possesses another Watermelon, a few other Watermelon Stevens notice. Later, Steven rallies the Watermelon Stevens to fight against Malachite.
Ronaldo
Ronaldo buys a Watermelon Steven and decides to live-stream an autopsy of it for the website Weirdstar. Realizing that they are alive, Steven tries to stop Ronaldo and is hit with a spatula. This causes the Watermelon Stevens to react and attack Ronaldo.
Baby Melon
Baby Melon saves Steven and the Gems from the other Watermelon Stevens by sacrificing itself. It strikes Steven, sending the wrath of the other "Watermelon Stevens" upon itself. As seen in "Super Watermelon Island", the Watermelon Stevens appear to worship Baby Melon as a sort of savior, having a statue of it in the middle of their village and mimicking the pose he made before his demise.
Malachite
During "Super Watermelon Island", Steven, possessing one of the Watermelon Stevens, comes face-to-face with Malachite. Malachite recognizes the Watermelon as Steven and attacks it, most likely driven by Jasper's hate of Steven. It may be that the Watermelon Stevens sacrifice each other to survive and calm down Malachite. The other Watermelons hide from Malachite out of fear, but Steven (as another Watermelon) rallies them to fight her.
Trivia
- The Watermelons are, at their most primitive, a morally ambiguous species. To fulfill their purpose – protecting Steven – they were prepared to injure or incapacitate the opposition. They restrained and attempted to bury Amethyst on the beach, digging the hole in front of her. They did not seem able to show emotion or mercy.
- This changes in "Super Watermelon Island" where they have developed their own society as well as personalities, showing off their own.
- Despite the fact that watermelons float, the Watermelon Stevens sink.
- When Watermelon Stevens are destroyed, they explode into chunks and slices of cut watermelon.
- Their life span is around 14 days.[1]
- They are similar to Pikmin, from a game with the same name.
Galleries
Watermelon Stevens.
Watermelon Stevens.