One Piece: Villains Who Redeemed Themselves

Key takeaways

• Morality in One Piece is not tied to legality; villains sometimes align with heroes who temporarily share goals.
• Characters like Hatchan, Nico Robin, and Duval transition from villains to heroes due to changes in heart and behavior.
• Bellamy and Speed ​​are examples of characters who transition from antagonistic to more heroic roles in the series.

Morale off One Piece characters are a somewhat varied subject. As a series focused on pirates, it makes it clear that morality is not equated with the legality of their actions. Sometimes more morally bankrupt characters align themselves with the pure heroes because they temporarily share the same goal.

Nevertheless, some characters sometimes make the transition from a more antagonistic role to a heroic one for various reasons. The end result is a change of heart, and to some extent a change of behavior. Here are some characters who once aligned with the villains, but later sided with the heroes instead.

6 Hatch

Ex-officer of the Arlong Pirates

• Debut: Chapter 69, (Manga), Episode 31 (Anime)
• Devil Fruit: No
• Connection: Takoyaki 8, Sun Pirates (former), Arlong Pirates (former)

Hatchan, informally known as Hachi, is a somewhat naive squid fisherman, who was one of Arlong's longtime affiliates. He is a swordsman well versed in the six sword style. Despite his captain's anti-human ideology, Hatchan never really bought into the philosophy. He was also friends with Silvers Rayleigh, first mate of the legendary Roger Pirates. Hatchan joined Arlong's crew when they split from the Sun Pirates, eventually taking up residence in Arlong Park on East Blue. Although he lacked his captain's prejudices, he still followed his orders. He was responsible for capturing Nami, which partially led to the subsequent tragedy.

After his defeat at Zoro's hands, Hatchan retires from piracy and opens a Takoyaki shop. He befriends Camie, a kissing gouramis mermaid, and Pappag, her starfish companion, both of whom help him man Takoyaki 8. When Camie asks for the Straw Hats' help in rescuing Hatchan after he is captured, the Fishman feels awkward about being rescued by his former enemies and try to hide their identity. This fails when Zoro recognizes his voice.

However, Hachi has since proven to be a consistent ally to the Straw Hats. He has introduced them to Rayleigh and his wife Shakuyaku, who are guarding The Thousand Sunny in their absence, and eventually helped them on Fish-Man Island when they finally made the trip down. It was for his sake that Luffy beat the World Noble, Charlos, despite the consequences.

5 Nico Robin

Former Vice President of Baroque Works

• Debut: Chapter 114 (Manga), Episode 67 (Anime)
• Devil Fruit: Hana Hana no Mi
• Connection: Straw Hat Pirates, Ohara Archaeologists (former), Revolutionary Army (former), Baroque Works (former), other criminal organizations

Nico Robin was the sole survivor of the Ohara massacre, and was branded a dangerous criminal for his ability to read poneglyphs. The public was falsely told that she and the other scientists were seeking knowledge to destroy the world with the ancient weapons. Because of the bounty on her head, Robin was forced to trust no one. After joining a series of pirate crews and criminal organizations, it was at the age of 24 that she met Crocodile, who needed her to help with his acquisition of the ancient weapon, Pluton. She proved useful to the warlord, serving as his liaison to agents of the Baroque Works, as well as an assassin of some repute.

Robin showed hints of not being on board with his plan, culminating in the pair trying to kill each other. Luffy saved her life, which she claimed she didn't want. This led her to forcefully invite herself to the Straw Hat Pirates, believing that Luffy should take responsibility for her life. Although they remained uneasy, she was able to use her vices against them to soften her view within the crew.

During her time with the crew, she grew so fond of them that she willingly gave herself up for them. In return, the Straw Hats even defied the World Government to save her. She finally announced that she wanted to live and join them at sea and has been a steady member of the crew ever since.

4 Duval

Leader of the Rosy Life Riders

• Debut: Chapter 491 (Manga), Episode 386 (Anime)
• Devil Fruit: No
• Connection: Rosy Life Riders

This wrinkled man resembled a rough sketch of “Black Leg” Sanji, causing his life to take a turn for the worse, once wanted posters with this exact illustration came out. This led to him being hunted by marines and bounty hunters, due to the resemblance. He hid his face in an iron mask, developed a hatred for Sanji, and made a name for himself in the slave trade, leading the Flying Fish Riders.

After the group teamed up with the Macro Pirates to capture Hatchan, they confronted the Straw Hats. Fighting Duval, Sanji used his Parage Shot to restructure his face, giving him a different handsome appearance. This caused him to become vain and use “handsome” interchangeably with his name. However, this was the beginning of his ultimate turn.

Duval's gratitude inspired him to quit the slave trade and later ally himself with the Straw Hats. Renamed the Rosy Life Riders, Duval's crew aided the Straw Hats in Sabaody and acted against other slave traders who wanted to capture Camie. Along with Hatchan and Bartholomew Kuma, Duval led his group to protect The Thousand Sunny in the Straw Hats' absence. He was later seen injured, recovering at Shakuyaku's bar. But he was no less willing to help Sanji, despite being hurt on his behalf once again.

3 Bellamy

Former member of the Donquixote Pirates

• Debut: Chapter 222 (Manga), Episode 146 (Anime)
• Devil Fruit: Bane Bane no Mi
• Connection: Donquixote Pirates (former), Bellamy Pirates (former)

Bellamy was introduced as an arrogant pirate who led his own crew out of boredom. He was allowed to use the Donquixote family symbol, provided he didn't lose to anyone. He eventually made it to Jaya, confronting other pirates and even taking a hotel as a makeshift base for his own crew. His disbelief in dreams made Luffy see him as under his watch, but Bellamy and his crew didn't get the message. Despite constantly urging the young pirate to attack him, his own attacks did nothing against Luffy, who took him out with a single hit.

After being beaten by Doflamingo, Bellamy and his crew went to the Sky Islands, although many did not survive the journey. Bellamy retrieved a golden pillar and regained his good standing with Donquixote Doflamingo. After this point he became obsessed with becoming an officer in the Donquixote Pirates. However, it was revealed that Doflamingo had no confidence in his skills and wished him dead. He insisted that he had no bad blood with Luffy when he met the pirate on Dressrosa. Despite this, Bellamy continued to fight Luffy, but was no better against him.

Once he recovered, Bellamy refused to be Luffy's subordinate, as he was one of the few Dressrosa allies who did not join the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. Instead, Bellamy retired from piracy and became a dyer. He still accepted Luffy's vivre card, so the pair could keep tabs on each other. It's likely that Bellamy wants to redeem himself further if Luffy is in danger again.

2 Speed

Former officer of the Beasts Pirates

• Debut: Chapter 917 (Manga), Episode 904 (Anime)
• Devil fruit: Horse LE
• Connection: Kurozumi Tama, Beasts Pirates (former)

Speed ​​was a poisoner in Beasts Pirates. This meant that she was not only strong enough to eat a SMILE (an artificial Zoan Devil Fruit), but she was lucky enough to gain animal powers from it. SMILE gave Speed ​​the ears, body and vision of a horse. Her strength was great enough to earn her a chief position, the lowest of three administrative ranks.

Her strength was coordinated by Tama, whose Kibi Kibi no Mi allowed her to sprout kibi dango that could be used to control animals. Since SMILE users are part animal, they are also susceptible to this control. Speed ​​developed a good relationship with Tama and was instrumental in deploying dangos that caused a number of Beasts Pirates to defect. She was even willing to confront Kaido herself, despite him being her former captain.

Sometime after Kaido's defeat, Tama declared that the dangos would disappear in about a month, leaving the afflicted to choose for themselves what they wanted to do. Speed ​​claimed that she would be happier with Tama, leading the kunoichi-in-training to ask if she should stay forever and act like her mother. While the exact outcome of this exchange is unclear at this time, it can be assumed that Speed ​​will likely stay with Tama, due to their closeness.

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