While many One Piece characters get exactly what they deserve, others definitely deserve better than they got, either in their flashbacks or during One Piece‘s main events. Fortunately, some of those good people who suffered unfairly were given another chance at happiness. Still, at certain points in their lives, they deserved a safer, happier, and more meaningful existence than they had. That helped One Piece develop a strong emotional core with resonant, emotionally impactful characters.

10Nico Robin Lost Everyone and Was Branded a Demon Child

No member of the Straw Hat pirate crew is more tragic and heartbreaking than Nico Robin, the smart, beautiful lady who ate the Flower-Flower Fruit. She was born on Ohara, a tiny island that housed the incredible Tree of Knowledge. Nico and her friends delved into forbidden research, leading to Ohara’s destruction in a Buster Call, and Nico was branded as a demon child by the World Government.

For years, Nico suffered as a desperate outcast, all for the “crime” of wanting to know more about her world. As a Straw Hat, she was captured at Water 7 and taken to Enies Lobby to face twisted justice, and Nico all but gave up on her life and future. She deserved far better than to suffer like that at Spandam’s hands, so it’s fortunate that Luffy’s heartfelt words sparked hope in Nico’s heart to change her life for the better.

9Nami Just Wanted a Good Life With Her Foster Mother and Sister

The hotheaded navigator Nami made her debut in the Orange Town story arc, but One Piece fans didn’t learn about Nami’s painful childhood until the Arlong Park story arc. In that arc, fans saw the truth of Nami’s grim upbringing in Coco Village, while the cruel fish-man pirate Arlong ruled with an iron fist.

Nami had been a happy and innocent child living with her foster mother and sister, but then Arlong shot and killed Nami’s foster mother Bell-Mere, and Nami worked for years to buy back Coco Village to make things right. But it was a trick, since Arlong never meant to honor that deal, and Nami was devastated. She deserved far better than that, and Nami got it when she pleaded with Luffy to “Help me.”

8Queen Otohime Sought Cooperation With Humanity

For generations, humanity and the fish-men and mermaids had racial tension around the globe. Plenty of people on each side resented the other, but queen Otohime of the Neptune royal family was an optimist who sought better relations between the two sides. Despite constant resistance, Otohime strove to build better human-mermaid ties, and some progress was made.

Tragically, the queen’s work was undone when she was shot and killed, and Hody Jones framed a human for the deed. Fish-men and humans were still at odds despite Otohime’s hard work ,and the queen died before she could ever meet heroes like Monkey D. Luffy, who was always ready to fight tyranny, intolerance, and abuse.

7Sanji Vinsmoke Endured Abuse From His Family Growing Up

In the East Blue saga, One Piece fans thought they had the full story of Sanji Vinsmoke the tsundere chef, mostly in regards to chef Zeff and the Baratie restaurant ship. Sanji was indeed a victim at the time, but as the Whole Cake Island saga showed, Sanji’s full backstory was far more brutal, and Sanji didn’t deserved it.

Sanji was an ordinary boy compared to his superhuman brothers and sister, leading Sanji’s cruel scientist father Vinsmoke Judge to treat Sanji like dirt. Sanji was imprisoned and shamed for years as a boy in Germa 66, but eventually, he escaped and sought a new life, leading him to chef Zeff and a life of culinary delights.

6Yamato Never Had His Father’s Respect

One Piece shows that while some parents and children are quite similar to one another in spirit, others are totally different or even complete opposites. Sometimes, the apple falls far from the tree, which was the case for the mighty Emperor Kaido and his child, Yamato.

Yamato was born a girl, but identified strongly with the glorious hero Kozuki Oden, so Yamato adopted a male identity as the next Kozuki Oden. Yamato only wanted to be a great hero like Oden, but the brutal Kaido disapproved, causing no end to Yamato’s suffering growing up. Finally, Yamato had a chance to express his true self and be a bonafide hero when the Straw Hats and their samurai allies stormed Onigashima Island to finally end Kaido’s reign of terror.

5Tom Only Wanted to Create Wonderful Things For People

Some One Piece characters are heroes because they fight evil, such as Monkey D. Dragon, while others become wonderful heroes because of the things they made. Tom the fish-man was an example of the latter, a famed shipwright who designed Gol D. Roger’s own ship. He also had two apprentices, Franky/Cutty Flam and Iceburg.

Tom designed the sea train, an incredible One Piece vehicle that could carry passengers across the open sea. However, he also had the secrets of the Pluton superweapon, and the World Government disapproved. Tom faced serious trouble and was eventually executed, but he never lost faith in his work and what he accomplished. Tom was an innocent, good-hearted fish-man who should have had a longer, even more fruitful career.

4Kaya Lost Her Parents, and Then Her Butler Betrayed Her

Lady Kaya was an early example of bad things happening to good people in the One Piece world. Kaya was a charming young lady who appeared in the Syrup Village arc, the same arc that introduced the future Straw Hat Usopp. Tragically, Kaya had lost both of her parents, but she still clung to happiness.

However, Kaya’s misfortunes were just beginning. Her trusted butler, known as Klahadore, was the pirate captain Kuro, who kept Kaya sick and aimed to seize her family’s fortune on her 18th birthday. Kaya endured years of poor health due to her traitorous butler, and the kind, innocent Kaya deserved none of that. Fortunately, the small Straw Hat crew saved the day, and Kaya has been doing well for herself ever since.

3Tony Tony Chopper Faced Rejection as a Talking Reindeer

Tony Tony Chopper first appeared in the Alabasta saga, more specifically in the Drum Island story arc. Chopper’s backstory was a heartbreaking one, telling the tale of a reindeer who ate the Human-Human Fruit, only to face ostracization from humans and reindeer alike. Chopper had a good heart, but no one to share it with at first.

Chopper eventually learned medicine from Dr. Hiriluk, but the doctor died, another emotional blow that Chopper certainly didn’t deserve. He also couldn’t do much to help the people of Drum Island against the tyranny of Wapol the king, but at least Dr. Kureha was around to keep hope alive. Chopper finally got his big break when the Straw Hats arrived, idealistic heroes who saw things Chopper’s way – and accepted him for who and what he was.

2Nefeltari Cobra Nearly Lost His Kingdom, Then Lost His Life

King Nefeltari Cobra was an example of a wise, benevolent king that set him apart from the likes of Donquixote Doflamingo and Wapol, a leader who truly wanted what was best for his people. Alabasta was a peaceful, comfortable place to live until Baroque Works launched a scheme to ruin the kingdom, all so Sir Crocodile could seize the secrets of Pluton.

Cobra watched with dismay as a deadly drought and civil war tore his beloved kingdom apart, and he was nearly killed until Luffy intervened and defeated Crocodile for good. Cobra’s rule was back on track, but then he was assassinated after the timeskip, unfairly robbing the world of one of its few truly great leaders.

1Jewelry Bonney Wanted Her Father Back

For a time, the pink-haired Jewelry Bonney was simply a goofy member of the Supernovas, the most powerful and consequential pirates of their generation. Bonney almost seemed like a gag character, but recent chapters in the One Piece manga revealed the heart-shattering truth about Bonney.

Years ago, Bonney was born in obscurity, and had the kind, monk-like Bartholomew Kuma to look after her after she contracted Sapphire Scales, which forced her to stay indoors at a church. Bonney’s hope gradually wore thin as Kuma’s letters failed ro reach her during Kuma’s travels, and then Bonney learned of Kuma’s fate as a living weapon. Foster father and daughter were torn apart because of the World Government’s manipulation and shady deals, and in the present, Bonney is ready to fight back against Saturn, one of the Five Elders responsible for her misfortunes.