History Main / BefriendingTheEnemy

A villain who stays evil after truly befriending a hero may be a TokenEvilTeammate. Compare DefeatMeansFriendship, TastesLikeFriendship, and WeUsedToBeFriends, the last of which being when the bad guy was originally a friend before they turned. Attempting to ''romance'' a villain or antagonist to change them falls under ICanChangeMyBeloved by way of LoveRedeems. See also FriendlyEnemy, where the two sides maintain frequent sympathetic interactions despite still warring.

** ''Anime/FreshPrecure'': Eas attempts to approach the Fresh Pretty Cure members to force them to give up only to end up becoming ''closer'' to Love each time, until she ends up being killed for her failure, being reborn as Setsuna Higashi, the fourth member of their team.
** ''Anime/SuitePrecure'': Siren is the leader of the generals, and decides to take on a human form, as Ellen Kurosawa, only to end up finding herself getting a crush on a young man and discovering that Hummy, despite what she thought, was always her friend... and ends up as the third Suite Pretty Cure in short order.

* ''Webcomic/EverydayHeroes'': During Jane's time in prison for her crimes as a villainous henchwoman, her family [[https://eheroes.thecomicseries.com/comics/114 regards her as a potentially useful asset]] while Mr. Mighty (the hero who'd captured her) visits her and [[[[https://eheroes.thecomicseries.com/comics/117 treats her like a human being]]. This leads her to [[WhiteSheep abandon her old life]] and accept his marriage proposal.

* ''Webcomic/EverydayHeroes'': During Jane's time in prison for her crimes as a villainous henchwoman, her family regards her as a potentially useful asset while Mr. Mighty (the hero who'd captured her) visits her and treats her like a human being. This leads her to [[WhiteSheep abandon her old life]] and accept his marriage proposal.

* ''Webcomic/EverydayHeroes'': During Jane's time is prison for her crimes as a villainous henchwoman, her family regards her as a potentially useful asset while Mr. Mighty (the hero who'd captured her) visits her and treats her like a human being. This leads her to [[HeelFaceTurn abandon her old life]] and accept his marriage proposal.

* ''Webcomic/EverydayHeroes'': During Jane's time is prison for her crimes as a villainous henchwoman, her family regards her as a potentially useful asset while Mr. Mighty (the hero who'd captured her) visits her and treats her like a human being. This leads her to [[HeelFaceTurn abandon her old life]] and accept his marriage proposal.

* ''Franchise/PrettyCure'' is notorious for this, with several series having antagonists turn into allies ''purely'' since they attempted to subvert this trope. Notable cases include:

* ''Anime/DokiDokiPrecure'': Regina has been successfully redeemed by Cure Heart and the other Pretty Cures by befriending her more than once. The first time immediately after Cure Heart [[DefeatMeansFriendship beats her in a fight]]. Regina has for various reasons turned back to evil several times, only for the show to to start their friendship over and [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor have her turn good again]].

* ''VideoGame/LoveAndPies'': After Amelia discovers that [[spoiler:her business rival Edwina is her half-sister, she decides to invite her to the café for a hangout to know her as a sister rather than an enemy. Edwina rejects her activity ideas first, but slowly warms up to her and gives her relationship advice. By the end of the day, Edwina tries to be a good older sister to Amelia and hopes that Sebastian would improve his relationship with the latter.]]

* ''VideoGame/LoveAndPies'': After Amelia discovers that her business rival Edwina [[spoiler:is her half-sister, she decides to invite her to the café for a hangout to know her as a sister rather than an enemy. Edwina rejects her activity ideas first, but slowly warms up to her and gives her relationship advice. By the end of the day, Edwina tries to be a good older sister to Amelia and hopes that Sebastian would improve his relationship with the latter.]]

* '' Franchise/{{Pokémon}}'': Blue is the rival character to Red ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'', where as in [[spoiler: ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' they Co-Head the Battle Tree, and are shown reminicing about their time as champions.]]

* The eponymous ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' has a tendency to resort to this, combined with a touch of CutenessProximity; Steven doesn't have a mean bone in his body, trying to befriend just about ''anyone'', from jerky donut-shop clerk Lars Barriga to [[spoiler:Peridot, an enemy Gem from Homeworld who had previously tried to outright ''kill him.''.]]

A villain who stays evil after truly befriending a hero may be a TokenEvilTeammate or PoisonousFriend. Compare DefeatMeansFriendship, TastesLikeFriendship, and WeUsedToBeFriends, the last of which being when the bad guy was originally a friend before they turned. Attempting to ''romance'' a villain or antagonist to change them falls under ICanChangeMyBeloved by way of LoveRedeems. See also FriendlyEnemy, where the two sides maintain frequent sympathetic interactions despite still warring.

-->--'''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants''' thinking about Plankton, "F.U.N."

Instead, some characters are asking, “Why are we enemies anyway? Has anyone ever tried talking things out? Does The Dark Lord even [[FriendlessBackground have any friends]]? Maybe if they got to know them a little better they might even turn out to be a decent person." So they try it out. They Befriend The Enemy.

A character who Befriends The Enemy is basically [[ThePlan planning]] to become something of a MoralityPet to try and make a villain or antagonist change their ways. This has about a 50/50 chance of success since often times the villain [[LonelyAtTheTop really is a loner]], or they're suffering from [[FreudianExcuse some sort of trauma]] and they could be redeemed if they had some [[LivingEmotionalCrutch friends to support them]]. Just as often, it turns out that StatusQuoIsGod. The good guy is just [[GoodIsDumb being naïve]], and the villain uses [[TheFarmerAndTheViper the attempt against them or to deceive them]] and get what they want. Then again, maybe the bad guy can't ever truly make a HeelFaceTurn because [[EvilFeelsGood evil is just too fun]] [[ThisIsYourBrainOnEvil to give up]]. Although we've been talking about absolutes like “good and evil” here, it's important to note that they don't have to be ''[[Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible the main villain]]''.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'', it is entirely possible to befriend a xenophobic empire. Likewise, if they fall under attack from another empire, you can come to their defense, which will improve relations with them. And if that empire becomes part of your Federation, or a vassal state, with the right amount of influence, you can convince them to let go of their xenophobic ways. This can’t be done with Fanatical Purifiers, Driven Assimilators, Devouring Swarm, or Determined Exterminators though.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. Bart's tried to befriend his bully and antagonist, Nelson Muntz, in some episodes. The first time to become popular, which resulted in Bart being bullied even harder when Nelson found out he was being manipulated. In later seasons however, Bart and Nelson have become friends over time, and Bart even calls him “his other best friend” in one episode.
* ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants''. In the episode ''F.U.N.'' Spongebob tries to befriend Plankton and asks him to play with him after seeing how Bikini Bottom treats him badly and calls him “a loser”. Plankton decides to go along with it, and use it as an opportunity to steal the Krabby Patty formula. After sharing a FriendshipSong together, Plankton does become his friend for a time, but ultimately chooses to betray Spongebob and steal a Krabby Patty at the end of the episode because [[EvilFeelsGood “evil is just too fun”]]. This kind of scenario has been recycled several times in the show usually with Plankton trying to exploit Spongebob in a new scheme.

* In ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'', after some serious deliberation on the subject, Negi decides that he wants to be Fate's friend, but will still give him the fight he desires. [[spoiler:At the end of their fight, Negi convinces Fate to cooperate in his plan to {{Terraform}} Mars as an alternate option to Fate's organization trying to just erase the whole dimension before it disappears. The two end up getting along so well that Negi's admirers start seeing Fate as a rival.]]

* In ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'', after some serious deliberation on the subject, Negi decides that he wants to be [[spoiler:Fate's]] friend, but will still give him the fight he desires. [[spoiler:As of ''Manga/UQHolder'', which is set 80 years after ''Negima'', Fate deeply treasures his friendship with Negi and will do anything in his power to save him from the Lifemaker]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' fanfic ''Fanfic/ResurrectedMemories'': [[spoiler: [[ZigZaggingTrope Zigzagged]] a bit in this story, Ember is aware of this but Danny and the others aren't.]]
* ''Fanfic/ADiplomaticVisit'': [[spoiler:As in canon, Twilight manages to befriend Tempest Shadow and turn her to the side of good during the sequel ''Diplomat at Large''; Grubber follows her when she does.]]
* ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainBlossomingTrail'': Chloe Cerise starts texting Amelia -- aka the former Conductor whose desire to recreate her life with her deceased fiance, Alrick plunged the Train into 30+ years of chaos and is indirectly responsible for a cult that's killed, tortured and traumatized denizens, along with pillaging and burning multiple cars in prospects of following "her" example -- and slowly becomes friends with the 60+ year old woman. It gest to the point that by Arc 2, Amelia joins Chloe and the other members of the Red Lotus Trio.
* ''Fanfic/WholeShards'': This is the entire premise of the series. Steve decides to reach out to the Winter Soldier ''without'' knowing who he really is.
* Accidentally done in ''Fanfic/ForgivenessIsTheAttributeOfTheStrong'', a My Hero Academia fanfiction, when a young All for One travels forward in time and gets adopted by All Might.
* In both versions of ''Fanfic/BleachUltimateAlien'', Ben is able to make friends within the Arrancar, turning them against Aizen because of his compassion, tolerance, and loyalty.
** In the original version, this was Professor Paradox's plan from the start, and while Ben first starts with Harribel and her Fraccion, he eventually makes friends with Starrk and Lilynette by [[DeclarationOfProtection swearing that if Soul Society goes for them, he'll be more than happy to fight them if it means protecting them]]. By Part 2, he's also good friends most of with the remaining Arrancar.
** In the remake, though, it's a bit more muddled, as [[ManipulativeBastard Aizen]] deliberately puts him with Starrk and Lilynette due to their DarkAndTroubledPast making them more sympathetic, he eventually becomes genuine friends with them, with the two eventually turning against Aizen. The same happens with Harribel and her Fraccion, but it does have a rougher start than the original, where Ben earned their ire through a MaleGaze at the Tercera Espada, but Harribel comes to become his ally after he fights Nnoitra on her Fraccion's behalf.

* Prose Lancelot: An OlderThanSteam example, Sir Lancelot manages to befriend Prince Galehaut of Sorelois, who at the time was at war with Myth/KingArthur over a disputed territory, which eventually resulted in a peace settlement between the warring royals.
* In ''Literature/TheSagaOfDarrenShan'', Kurda Smahlt advocates this to avoid the prophesied vampire war... [[spoiler: At least until the other side's Chosen One actually appears. [[WellIntentionedExtremist Then...]].]]

* Spike in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', what starts as an EnemyMine situation between Buffy and Spike at the end of the second season as they both want to avoid the end of the world turns into a somewhat complex friendship between Spike and all other characters (except Xander) by latter seasons.
* ''Series/KamenRiderFourze'': [[AllLovingHero Gentaro]] regularly does this with the MonsterOfTheWeek, who are usually fellow highschoolers with emotional issues that they vent by transforming into a monster. [[WarriorTherapist Gentaro defeats their monster forms, and also helps them through their underlying issues.]]
* ''Series/{{Victorious}}'': Tori repeatedly tries to befriend Jade, despite how the later constantly torments her. In one episode, Jade is [[ExploitedTrope even able to get]] Tori to help her out by suggesting she would consider her a friend. When asked why she does this, Tori explained that she would rather be Jade's friend than constantly fighting her. While Jade refuses to call Tori a friend, she definitely has gotten closer to her than she was at the start of the series.
* In season 2 of ''Series/{{Stargirl|2020}}'', Rick Tyler begins to bring food to Solomon Grundy in the woods, even though Rick knows that Grundy killed his parents. Eventually, they become friends. [[spoiler:In the season finale, Rick, who has smashed his father's hourglass and can no longer get SuperStrength, shows up to fight Eclipso with Grundy in tow. Rick is shocked and distraught when Eclipso blasts a hole in Grundy's chest, killing the brute. However, as he's burying Grundy in the woods, the Shade tells him that Grundy may rise again.]]

* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', an Inquisitor with high approval with [[spoiler: Solas]] can inadvertently pull this trope, although [[spoiler: only because they don't know his [[HiddenVillain real identity]] until much later on.]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'': While all monsters can be spared by doing actions that cause them to like the protagonist, this trope is most apparent for Undyne and [[spoiler: Asgore]]. Both attempt to murder the protagonist horribly, but can be spared and befriended like everyone else. Doing this is required for the GoldenEnding.
* ''Pokemon Series'': Blue is the rival character to Red ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'', where as in [[spoiler: ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' they Co-Head the Battle Tree, and are shown reminicing about their time as champions.]]
* ''VideoGame/BoxxyQuestTheGatheringStorm'' has this as a RunningGag. Pretty much every time the gang meets a new bad guy, [[GenkiGirl Tyalie]] eagerly suggests they join the team instead of fighting. [[ForegoneConclusion It never works out.]]
* In ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'', it is entirely possible to befriend a xenophobic empire. Likewise, if they fall under attack from another empire, you can come to their defense, which will improve relations with them. And if that empire becomes part of your Federation, or a vassal state, with the right amount of influence, you can convince them to let go of their xenophobic ways. This can’t be done with Fanatical Purifiers, Driven Assimilators, Devouring Swarm, or Determined Exterminators though.

* ''Webcomic/CucumberQuest'' Plays this for comedy. Princess Parfait seeing some good in the Nightmare Knight, [[spoiler: says “she's happy to have made a new friend” out of him. This is utterly baffling to The Nightmare Knight who is so used to everyone fearing him for being the main villain that it leads to his first NotSoStoic moment in the comic. Parfait mistakenly taking this for meaning he doesn't know what the word friendship means draws up some pictures of them having fun to try and explain to him what friendship is. Then when the Nightmare Knight says he doesn't desire her friendship he ends up doing something friendly for her anyway when he secretly takes her letter that she wanted him to deliver to Carrot. ]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheCattanoogaCats'': At the end of a long day of a cat-and-mouse chasing routine, Motormouse will give Autocat a lift home.

* This is what happens to Cyril Sneer in ''WesternAnimation/TheRaccoons'''s as the show progresses. He becomes closer and closer with the heroes to the point of practically turning into the TokenEvilTeammate in the final seasons.
* Rataxes in ''WesternAnimation/{{Babar}}'' gradually turns less hostile and tyrannical as he befriends Babar and family, it helps that his wife and son were already friends with Babar's wife and children.
* In ''WesternAnimation/ReadyJetGo'', the main characters befriend Mitchell, a jerk who had tried to expose Jet's alien identity multiple times throughout the series. Mitchell becomes kinder as a result.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' episode "Lost in Language" revolves around Luz's attempts to befriend the local AcademicAlphaBitch Amity Blight and bury the hatchet between them. It ultimately works and the two are shown to be on good terms by the time of Amity's next appearance. [[spoiler:In fact, it works so well that the two of them eventually become the show's OfficialCouple.]]

* Accidentally done in ''Fanfic/ForgivenessIsTheAttributeOfTheStrong'', a My Hero Academia fanfiction, when a young All for One travels forward in time and gets adopted by All Might.

* In ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' after the events of the seventh books is established in the epilogue that Harry and his [[BigBrotherBully Bully Cousin]] Dudley become somewhat of friends and spend some time together as adults, mostly to make their respective children play with each other as family. In the sequel ''Theater/HarryPotterAndTheCursedChild'' Harry and Draco are shown to be friends as adults.

* In ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' after the events of the seventh books is established in the epilogue that Harry and his [[BigBrotherBully Bully Cousin]] Dudley become somewhat of friends and spend some time together as adults, mostly to make their respective children play with each other as family. In the sequel ''Theather/HarryPotterAndTheCursedChild'' Harry and Draco are shown to be friends as adults.

* Hibiki Tachibana, the lead of ''Anime/SenkiZesshouSymphogear'' always tries to befriend the human (or close enough) enemies. If the enemy is sufficiently evil enough, she won't bother.

* In ''Manga/TheDemonGirlNextDoor'', the titular demon girl Yuko confronts local MagicalGirl Momo, declaring she intends to kill a magical girl and sacrifice their blood to her ancestor to break a curse on her family, but Yuko is so laughably weak she poses absolutely no threat to Momo. Momo takes pity on her feeble assailant and even tries training her; she [[SecretlySelfish has multiple reasons for doing so]], but merely tells Yuko it's for her own safety. However, when Momo is training Yuko how to use magic, Yuko reveals she doesn't really have any dark or malevolent feelings towards people and the world, and just wants everyone to get along and be friends. In light of this, Momo begins trying to genuinely become her friend.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' episode "Lost in Language" revolves around Luz's attempts to befriend the local AcademicAlphaBitch Amity Blight and bury the hatchet between them. It ultimately works and the two are shown to be on good terms by the time of Amity's next appearance. [[spoiler:In fact, it works so well that Amity would later develop a ''massive'' crush on Luz.]]