10 One Piece characters with the saddest backstories

One Piece is no stranger to tragic backstories. In fact, it’s more common for characters in the series to have lived a horrible life than a happy one, and it does make sense. After all, many of the series’ beloved characters are trying to pursue their own dreams that stemmed from heartbreaking experiences. And so, here are the 10 characters with the saddest backstories.

The Gladiator Kyros

Kyros has always been a mighty and good-hearted warrior, though he isn’t blessed with a good life at birth. He became a gladiator in the Corrida Colosseum after killing two men in his teens, and he dominated the place. Kyros easily racked up thousands of victories without a single defeat, then King Riku convinced him to live a free life. He eventually caught Princess Scarlett’s heart, eloped with her, and gave birth to Rebecca.

The tragedy came after Doflamingo’s conquest of Dressrosa. He cut his own leg to save King Riku and then transformed into a toy soldier by Sugar. Even though Sugar failed to take Kyros’ free will, other people’s memories of him were still erased. Kyros watched Diamante murder his wife and couldn’t even shed a tear. Furthermore, he protected Rebecca and taught her how to fight for years. During that time, Rebecca only knew him as the toy soldier and not her biological father.

Usopp

Usopp has always been known as a liar who liked telling tall tales. However, this quirk of his is deeply rooted in his tragic backstory.

Usopp’s father, Yasopp, left with the Red-Hair Pirates when Usopp was still a child, leaving him and his ailing mother behind. As his mother’s condition worsened, Usopp started lying about pirates’ arrival in the hopes that the chance of his father returning could help keep his mother’s fighting spirit up. After losing his mother, Usopp kept up with the lies as a way to cope with the sadness of losing both of his parents.

Nico Robin

Born in Ohara, Robin was a child prodigy, able to read the ancient Ponegliffs, which made her a target of the World Government. Ohara’s scholars, including Robin’s mother, were determined to uncover the secrets of the Void Century, but their quest led to the destruction of their island. Robin witnessed the merciless Buster Call, a catastrophic attack that annihilated her entire homeland. Among the casualties are her mother, her new friend Jaguar D. Saul, and the scholars she admired. It didn’t end there. Branded as a dangerous criminal from a young age, Robin spent her life on the run, unable to trust anyone.

Bartholomew Kuma

Bartholomew Kuma is the newest character to join the list of sad backstories in the series. He has always been a mysterious character, treading the line between being the Straw Hats’ enemy and ally. However, it ultimately made sense after his story was revealed in Egghead.

Kuma is one of the last Buccaneers, yet he has lived a tragic life. Enslaved with his parents at just four years of age, Kuma’s family was abused so much that both his parents ultimately perished. Kuma gained his freedom during the God Valley incident and eventually lived as a priest with Ginny. Both characters then joined the Revolutionary Army, though Ginny was once again captured to become a World Noble’s bride.

When Ginny returned to the revolutionaries, it was already too late. She died from Sapphire Scale Disease, leaving her daughter Jewelry Bonney behind. Bonney unfortunately inherited the disease. In order to save her, Kuma volunteered himself for the government’s human experiment, which slowly turned him into an unthinking, unfeeling machine.

Cutty Flam/Franky

Franky, originally named Cutty Flam, was abandoned by his pirate parents at a young age. Taken in by shipwright Tom, Franky developed a passion for building ships. However, when Tom was arrested for building the ship of the Pirate King, the government gave him a chance to escape punishment by building a sea train.

Even when Tom successfully held his end of the bargain, the government still didn’t want to let him go. They were after Pluton’s blueprint and wanted to acquire it no matter what. During this time, Franky was already into creating battleships. Spandam, then leader of CP5, learned of this and used those very same battleships to launch a pseudo-attack on Water 7. Even though Tom and the others successfully stopped the attack, Tom was still sentenced to death. He was taken to Enies Lobby via the same sea train he built, which Franky attempted to stop with his frail, young body.

Senor Pink

Senor Pink undeniably has one of the stupidest outfits in One Piece, yet the reason behind his wardrobe of choice is far from stupid. Even during his younger years, Senor Pink was already a member of the Donquixote Pirates. Interestingly, however, he met and fell in love with a woman named Russian, who hated pirates. Knowing this, Senor Pink hid his true occupation and posed as a banker. The two eventually gave birth to a son named Gimlet.

The happiness was short-lived. Gimlet died while Senor Pink was away, and Russian ultimately learned the truth. She started running away from Senor Pink and got caught in a landslide, which brought her into a permanent vegetative state. In a desperate attempt to bring his wife’s consciousness back, Senor Pink started wearing Gimlet’s clothes. This brought a smile to the comatose Russian’s lips, prompting Senor Pink to adopt the attire permanently.

Nami

Nami grew up in Cocoyashi Village under the care of her adoptive mother, Belle-Mère. Despite their poverty, Nami, her sister Nojiko, and Belle-Mère lived happily. That happiness was shattered when the Arlong Pirates invaded the village, demanding a tax for every resident. Unable to pay for all three of them, Belle-Mère sacrificed herself in front of Nami and Nojiko. She could have lived if she denied having daughters, but Belle-Mère’s motherly love couldn’t let her do so.

Nami was then forced to work for Arlong, who exploited her incredible cartography skills to draw maps for his conquests. Arlong promised to free the village if Nami could gather 100 million Berries, forcing the young girl to a life of piracy and thievery.

Trafalgar D. Water Law

As a child, Law grew up in Flevance, a prosperous kingdom famous for its Amber Lead. However, the material was highly toxic, and its prolonged exposure led to the slow and painful death of its citizens. The government kept the truth hidden, and by the time the effects of the poisoning became apparent, it was too late. Law watched as the government shot his parents and those close to him.

Consumed by rage and a desire for revenge, Law joined the Donquixote Pirates, where he hoped to use their power to destroy the government. However, his life took another tragic turn when he bonded with Donquixote Rosinante, also known as Corazon. Rosinante tried to save Law from the darkness, eventually bonding with the young Law. However, Corazon’s betrayal soon came to light. Knowing his brother would put an end to him, Corazon used his Devil Fruit ability on the young Law and died with a smile on his face. Meanwhile, Law could only weep in silence as he once again watch his protector die in front of him.

Tony Tony Chopper

Born with a blue nose, Chopper was ostracized by his fellow reindeer. Things only got worse when he ate the Human-Human Fruit, which gave him human-like characteristics. His appearance terrified both humans and animals, leaving him alone in the world. Seeking acceptance, Chopper approached humans for help, but he was met with violence and further rejection.

He eventually found a home with Dr. Hiriluk, a quack doctor with a big heart. Chopper looked up to Hiriluk as a father figure, but tragedy struck when Hiriluk fell gravely ill. Remembering the skull and bones in Dr. Hiriluk’s Jolly Roger, Chopper mistook the skull and bones symbol on the medical book as a miracle cure. In a desperate attempt to save him, Chopper risked his life to find that special mushroom. Hiriluk, knowing the truth, still took the mushroom as it was his precious son’s concoction. Not wanting Chopper to blame himself for his death, Dr. Hiriluk took his own life before the poison could do so.

Brook

Brook’s backstory is unarguably one of the most haunting in the series. He was once the musician of the Rumbar Pirates, a jovial group who promised to return to the Grand Line to reunite with their friend Laboon. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when the crew were hit by an illness, leading to their slow demise. In their final moments, Brook and his crewmates played one last song together, which Brook is supposed to deliver to Laboon. And so, they did. The crew sang as one fell after another. Eventually, it became a quartet; a trio; a duet; ultimately, a sorrowful solo.

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