The resolve of many-a-plots rely on the eventual coming together of two opposing forces who had previously viewed the other as the enemy. When pulled off well, the act of joining forces and abandoning of earlier hate can be joyful, satisfying and - most importantly - realistic. A difficult feat...or is it? If your story resolves itself with the hero and villain burying the hatchet, the reason behind it has to be justified and believable. Here are just a few ways you can do this by turning a dastardly villain into a valuable ally.

Loss

For this to work, there must be some humanity in the villain, with the ability to feel love or empathy being key. A mid-story loss, or the reveal such an event in the past, could be a powerful move in helping two opposing foes meet in the middle. The loss of something or someone important humanises both hero and villain, leading to sympathy from one and a new perspective from the other. This could be easily achieved if your hero is a generally good person, but how does this work with a hateful villain? A sense of shared understanding is one method, with the villain recalling a time when they experienced a similar loss, whilst another is breaking the illusion that the hero is just a one-dimensional enemy.

Betrayal and Failure

Be willing to let your villain experience their own personal journey throughout the story. A once proud, arrogant antagonist who is used to things going their way will have their world fall apart once they taste betrayal or failure. The effects could be very far reaching, but at its base is feeling their position and confidence has been weakened. In turn, this impacts on their resolve. Use this opportunity to open the way for some sort of partnership. The hero could be the only real way forward, and once the villain overcomes this jarring fact they may be ready to alter their outlook.

Growth

We expect children to eventually grow out of immature tendencies. We see those around us make mistakes and learn from them. The ability to self-reflect is often credited with highlighting some bad qualities in need of fixing. If we accept these examples of growth in real life, we should expect to see them in fiction. Hero arcs nearly always involve self-improvement, and there's no reason the same growth cannot be seen from within our villains. They should grow as people. Experiences and reflection lead to maturity, so don't be afraid of letting your 'bad guys' mature in as your story progresses. Complete 180-turns from demon to angel will be pushing the boundaries of believability, but small, meaningful changes are both realistic and refreshing.

Past Misunderstanding Resolved

Speaking of maturity, animosity which stemmed from basic mix-up or third-party deception can grow stale over time. Throw in a revelation that their hate was founded on a misunderstanding or a lie, and you may have found yourself with two characters no longer able to harbour that same hate as before. Clearing up the truth can change viewpoints and perceptions, hence ending a long-running feud. Getting to that stage might realistically take time so consider what each character needs to get to this stage.

Mutual Enemy

Nothing bonds two people faster than by having a common enemy! There are countless story arcs which could lead to two opposing sides to put aside their differences to defeat a greater evil. If leaning into the possibility of betrayal is more your thing, one villain backstabbing another is a sure-fire way to send them running in the direction of our heroes in the hopes of securing revenge. This alliance could be set up as a temporary, a short-term partnership until the big evil is dealt with. If you would like to see a permanent shift, remember that seeing each other as an ally – even briefly – could lead to long-lasting neutrality. Working together can bring out the best in both teams who finally get to utilise the skills that once went against them. Who would want to go backwards?

Change of Emotions

Use some real-life lessons. What causes animosity in the first place? Often, feuds are born out of jealousy or a sense of competition. Rivals for the affections of a mutual love interest, going after the same goal, striving to be the best or one being severely disadvantaged compared to the other – whatever the crux of the matter is, the emotions must be strong enough to carry the ill will for a time. When one is ultimately successful or the basis of their jealousy is removed, feuds can die out. This paves the way for a more level-headed view of one another, perhaps one which would allow a partnership to form.

Olive Branch Effect

People are stubborn. When you already dislike someone, you are less willing to be the first to step in. If that person makes the first move, extending an olive branch of sorts, we can be jolted from our position of comfortable obstinance. We may even return the favour. When our protagonist says or does something positive towards the antagonist unselfishly, the antagonist has the opportunity to alter their perceptions. A gesture or kind word may mean more than historic misgivings. A villain, by way of acceptance of the olive branch, alters their actions in response. A demonstration of mercy or forgiveness will catch many enemies off-guard, and one with at least a few threads of humanity, may feel the need to reciprocate further down the line.

Unexplored Moral Compass

Speaking of humanity, even the worst of people often have lines they would not cross. The best villains are never wholly evil, complex in their sense of right and wrong. Use this to your advantage. When it is revealed they have a previously unknown moral code – perhaps by not stooping to committing a deplorable act – breakthroughs in understanding are possible. The villain could also be disturbed by the corruption in another and have a change of heart themselves. It's better to have a clear understanding from the outset where these moral perimeters lie, and set clues in advance. No matter how your villain transforms into an ally, stay true to your characters. Keep their actions and reactions as realistic as you can, and use their characteristics and history to your advantage when setting up the catalyst which will have them switching sides. This character arc will be a major one, and you should be proud of its end.