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I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends.
—Abraham Lincoln (attributed)

After a fair and square fight, everyone becomes friends - That's the Rule of Right of Shonen Manga!
—Ken Matsushiro, Yakitate!! Japan

In a series based around an endless series of one-on-one fights, defeating a Worthy Opponent or The Rival will sometimes convert them to the hero's side, if not always to his cause. Furthermore, no matter how many people the Worthy Opponent has killed, how much grief he has caused, even if he slaughtered helpless children or the hero's own family, as soon as he shows a bit of remorse or goes out of his way to help the hero even once, he will be welcomed into the hero's circle of Nakama with open arms.

It helps if the story is idealistic enough for the hero to forgive the villain after s/he is safely defeated. Correspondingly, the villain in this kind of story is so surprised and moved that the hero would be that big hearted to do that, that they have a change of heart.

In video games, this may simply be an instance of the designers wanting to include more Boss Battles; this is even more obvious in several cases where a character is already an ideological ally but wants to "duel" or "practice" against you anyways, or needs to "test your strength" before he'll join up. (Summons love to do this, as do Mons and even warrior tribes.) These fights are, then, essentially filler. Of course, more Boss Battles are usually what the player wants, as well, so there are rarely complaints.

Compare Kill Me Now Or Forever Stay Your Hand, another way to win over your enemies. Also compare Let's You And Him Fight where the two character are heroes who are already on the same side but still fight each other before joining forces, and Fire Forged Friends, where enemies end up fighting on the same side to become friends. Contrast My Revenge Is Mercy.

Examples

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