When Dudley Dursley was a child, he had felt like he was on top of the world.
And why wouldn't he? His parents loved him to pieces, he had tons of friends, he got whatever he wanted whenever he asked for it, but….
But he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Perhaps it's how his parents whispered in low, fervent tones behind the door in the kitchen, or perhaps it's how they avoided the cupboard door like there was a horrible monster in it's shadowy depths, he didn't know, but what he did know was that there was something in there his parents didn't want him to see, and he was going to find out what it was.
That night after his mother had tucked him into bed and his father had read him a story about a knight that slayed an evil witch and rescued a princess, he waited until he knew they were fast asleep before sneaking downstairs to the cupboard.
He stalled for only moment, and in which that time he stared with uncertainty at the small door, before puffing up his chest in determination. He undid the latch slowly and with shaking hands opened the door.
What he found inside was both overwhelming and extraordinary disappointing at the same time and despite himself he couldn't help but deflate and slump his shoulders in disappointment.
He had expected something like treasure, or perhaps a secret pathway that lead to a princess like in his storybook.
What he saw was an ordinary cupboard, with pipes above and cleaning supplies littering the floor in a hazardous mess. What was unexpected was the ratty mattress and the tiny figure curled up on it, eyeing him with bright green eyes.
Dudley froze under the gaze before once again screwing up his courage and shuffling closer. The person was a girl, now that Dudley was close enough to see, and had black messy hair that stopped just before touching her skinny shoulders. Her eyes were a bright, gleaming green that burned at him through the dark. The girl shifted and Dudley saw a vicious, jagged scar zig-zagging down her forehead.
At the sight of the scar Dudley felt a strange, ugly feeling twist in his chest for the first time in his life.
Why couldn't he have a cool scar like that?
Shaking the feeling off, Dudley stared at the girl with a small frown.
"Who are you?" He asked her, frowning further when she didn't answer. A sudden thought came to him.
"Are you a princess?" He questioned excitedly, grinning proudly when the girls eyes widened at his, in his opinion, correct conclusion. "I knew it! I knew something was in here and was right! I-"
He was cut off by a creaking from upstairs and the girl quickly pushing him out and closing the door behind him. He stared in confusion before scowling.
"Fine," He snapped out angrily. "Stay by yourself then." Dudley crossed his arms and huffed, stomping his way up the stairs and into his room.
The next day he told his parents about the rude girl in the cupboard that pushed him out, oblivious to the sudden deafening silence from his parents as he rambled on about her.
He looked up when he had finished his tirade, expecting his parents to give him their feedback back as always, only to shake in his seat at the sight of his father.
Vernon Dursley was a big man, with a dark brown hair and mustache. To Dudley he had always been what a man should be; Hard working, proud, happy, etc.
For as long as Dudley could remember his dad has always been his hero; his idol.
But looking into the crimson face of his enraged father, his massive frame towering over both him and his mother, it made him feel something toward his father he thought he would never feel: Fear.
And He will do anything to have it not directed toward him.
XxxxxX
Ever since he told his parents about the girl, things have changed.
The first was that they had let the girl out and had enrolled her into school with him.
Dudley hated it. He hated how the girl made everything different. He hated how his parents have changed because of her. He hated her.
It seemed like everyone was laughing at him; like they knew something was wrong and was mocking him for it. The teachers had called his parents several times over his behavior and later, his slipping grades.
But it wasn't his fault! It wasn't! He just-he just doesn't understand it, Math, English; none of it! They wanted him to do things he didn't know how to do and than mocked him when he didn't get it right! It frustrated and enraged him to no end!
His parents were of course on his side. How could they torment their son like this? He didn't do anything wrong, he was just rambunctious and distracted! Dudley didn't need special attention, he's smart and will get it in no time.
Feeling empowered by his parents and their words and actions, he continued on and even began bullying other kids with his newfound gang, instilling fear in many who knew of them.
His favorite target was the girl, or as his parents called her, The Freak.
One day he had cornered Freak, a proud grin on his face as he saw the fearful expression on her face. He reared his fist back ready to punch her with everything he had, to punish her for making everything different-
Only to falter when he saw the scared expression on her face change from a tired, resigned look for what's to come. His mind flashed back to his father and his towering rage, how scared he had felt at the sight, and he began to lower his fist.
Behind him he could hear his friends calling out to him and he quickly pulled his fist back and swung it forward to smash it into her face before his friends could see his moment of weakness.
His father had never been prouder when he heard what happened, beaming from ear to ear and happily instructing him on how to form a fist properly so he doesn't hurt himself as badly next time around.
His mother hadn't said a word, but the small fond smile she gave him said it all.
Dudley had found himself feeling hollow despite the praise for the first time in his young life. It's a feeling that will stay with him for many years.
XxxxxX
Dudley Dursley had been eleven years old when he discovered Magic for the first time.
He thought it was supposed to be something amazing, something that was wondrous, even despite his parents saying otherwise on the matter.
He should have listened to them.
The reality is that magic was… terrifying. It had hurt him, that massive man with the wild face and beard had used it to give him a pig's tail. Dudley had heard the man's comment about him being too much of pig already to be transformed completely amidst the screaming and running around, and has seen his cousin's answering smile in return.
Both the man and his cousin had already left and now his parents were talking rapidly on finding a doctor to remove the pig's tail. The couldn't do anything until a boat came around though.
By the time he was able to return home, his parents had called several doctors until they found one who was willing to cut it off discreetly. The surgeon hadn't said anything to him when they met, and the blank expression he held was enough to make Dudley uneasy around him for the entire time, but in the end the tail came off.
In the time that his cousin, Hari as he found out later was her name, was gone, everything seemed to go back to normal.
His parents were back to being the doting parents, and he still hung out with his gang.
His new school though… his new school was awful.
He had thought it would be like before, where he could hit anybody he liked and do whatever he wanted. Instead he found out the kids were all bigger and stronger than him, and, unlike him, has parents high enough in society that any "mistakes" could be swept under the carpet.
Dudley found himself being bullied for his weight more often than not.
He had found himself getting involved with substances and events he never really thought he would be involved in. All those kids he brutally maimed...
When they both returned during the summers, with Hari becoming colder and colder due to school and his parents treatment through the years, and himself becoming crueler and crueler, it all changed when those… demons attacked them.
The way those cold boney fingers grasped his face…. Their shredded cloaks… the horrible, empty feeling, like he was never gonna be happy again…it changed him.
That day as he watched his father scream in Hari 's face, his whole massive frame shaking as if he was going to brutally attack her, he came to startling conclusion.
He didn't want to be Dudley Dursley anymore.
XxxxxX
Dudley Dursley didn't disappear until he was in College.
He had wanted to go to College in America and his parents reluctantly agreed, even paying for the whole thing. Truthfully he had wanted to get away from everything, his parents especially. They were still pretty cold to him when they discovered Hari and him were in contact with each other.
It turns out that leaving the country for college was the best decision he ever made.
It wasn't until College he discovered his love for music. It wasn't until College that he began to dream about being a famous rockstar. He had written song after song, came up with note after note, until each of his songs were as amazing as they were in his head. He was proud of each and every one of them. He had spent hours and hours learning how to play any instrument that caught his interest, and he kept practicing until his fingers bled on the guitar strings and all he wanted to do was sleep for days on end.
He never worked so hard for anything in his life, not even boxing.
He had never wanted anything so much in his life.
It wasn't until he met Marty that he felt like his dream might become reality.
Marty had taken him under his wing after sitting in on a gig Dudley had gotten himself. He had introduced himself and asked if Dudley needed a manager. He couldn't say yes fast enough. The first thing out of Mart's mouth was that they needed to change Dudley's name, to his surprise. Marty had told him that his name was too…
Marty didn't finish his sentence, but he didn't need to. Dudley understood.
And so Dudley Dursley ceased to exist and Greg Universe was born.
He was relieved, he much prefered being Greg Universe.
Dudley Dursley had been a monster with a past to match. He had done things that would have made many flinch and had been a spoilt brat that relied on his parents for everything.
But Greg Universe…
Greg Universe was free. Greg was a confident, if not downright cocky, rockstar that relied on no one. He had an awesome van with his own logo and an awesome long mane of hair.
He loved being Greg Universe.
Soon he dropped out of College and traveled the road with his manager and friend Marty, ignoring any calls from his furious parents and feeling happier than he's ever been.
His phone layed shattered to pieces on a road.
XxxxxX
If there was anything his father taught him, it was how to treat woman. It's strange, that such an intolerant man actually knew how to treat anyone with any decency at all, But Greg guessed he would have to in order to successfully date and then marry his mother. Even when he was a child his father had always treated his mother lovingly and respectfully.
Greg had been with others during his nomadic life. Some he loved and others he simply liked. But he treated all of them with respect down to the end.
Marty was different in this regard. He played with others and their feelings like Greg plays his guitar. To be honest, Greg was sure Marty has at least a few kids with how much he likes to fool around. It was one of the few things they fight over constantly.
In fact, it had been a running gag to Marty that Greg had a preference for big women, but Greg couldn't really look at skinny women without thinking of his mother.
When Greg met Rose Quartz he had never been more struck by anyone in his life. She had been the only one to show up for his concert in Beach City, and had came up to talk to him after the show. Greg had never seen anyone like her in his life. She had been big, with curly pink hair, and dark eyes.
In Greg's opinion, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever met.
It wasn't until later that he discovered the magical part of her, and while he was scared he shoved it down deep. He cared too much about Rose to let his fear control him.
Though honestly he could do without Pearl belittling him.
He wondered if this was how Hari felt around his mother.
XxxxxX
With Rose, Greg became the person he always wanted to be.
He had long ago told her who he was before he was Greg, and what kind of person he used to be. She had kissed him then after his story and pulled back to stare at him with starry eyes and a soft grin, saying that he wasn't that person anymore and that he chose to be some else., something that not even humans choose to do often.
Soon days became months, and months became years. Greg has lived for many years in Beach City, even after his wife's death, a dark day for him with the only positive being his son's birth.
His son Steven had been the only light of his life after Rose died, and if didn't have him Greg wasn't sure he would have been able to continue on. The Gems had been cold and resentful toward him ever since and he had kept Steven away from them in his early years in fear they might treat him the same.
It had been one of reasons he named Hari godmother in case something happened to him.
After many emotional breakdowns, confrontations, and life threatening events, they somehow found a way to get back on even ground, and Greg and Pearl even found themselves being friends.
One day Greg got a call from Steven.
Steven had called his dad and claimed a woman was at the barn for Greg. Greg, surprised by this, drove his van and the Gems to the barn where he was met with an unexpected sight.
"Hello Greg."
"Hari?!?"