History TearJerker / FireEmblemAwakening

*** After slaying Grima in ''The Future Past 3'', the Avatar's last words are to apologize to Morgan for putting them through so much pain and finally expressing gratitude that s/he is [[DyingAsYourself finally free from Grima]].
** Heck, the Future Past version of Avatar in general, from sending Chrom and party back to their world with what little control they have left in fear that s/he might end up killing Chrom again to pleading with the Future Past version children to end their misery while they still can.

** Morgan's supports reveal they have absolutely ''[[LaserGuidedAmnesia no]]'' memory of their Non-Avatar parent, and he/she feels ''really'' bad about it. Even if they reach A, Morgan still only manages to recall one ''extremely vague'' memory of them. It's tear-jerking from both sides too: imagine your own child knowing nothing about you other than the fact you're their parent.

*** It's even more depressing if you consider the fact that the memory is so vague, Morgan could have just made it up to make his/her father/mother feel better. It's easy to read it in such a way that even Morgan's non-Avatar parent is aware of it, but chooses not to say anything.

* After Chapter 21, Lucina confronts the Avatar and reveals that [[EtTuBrute he/she was the one who murdered Chrom in the Bad Future timeline]]. Even if it's not the Avatar's own free will, there's still possibility that he/she is Validar's mind-controlled ManchurianAgent. In order to prevent Chrom's death from happening in this timeline, she has to kill you before you kill Chrom. You are even given the option to accept Lucina's judgement or not.

** That same ending is even more tearjerking if the Avatar is married to Chrom. ''Chrom is watching his very own wife literally die before his eyes.'' It's even worse if you take in to account that Chrom (and Lucina) must have been absolutely heartbroken (especially after the promises they made to stay together), and mourning for Grima-knows-how-long before finding the Avatar again in the final cutscene. And even if s/he isn't married to Chrom, it's still the second time he's had to watch somebody important to him [[NotAfraidToDie knowingly and willingly]] go to their death — even if it ''is'' [[WhatIsOneMansLifeInComparison for the greater good]] — without being able to do anything to stop it.

*** Similarily to example above, sacrificing yourself is basically forcing Cordelia to watch ''once again'' as her comrade gives his/her life to let her live safely. This goes double if you married her to Avatar — you helped her overcome her SurvivorGuilt, and now you too abandon her...

* Henry and Ricken's B-Support, which reveals a few things about the Plegian commanders that will probably make you feel bad for killing them.

--> Tiki: "I... know you. That grisly guise you wear is not enough to blind me. You died to protect something. Will you now destroy it? Then know I will stop you — to honor your last wish and defend the children."

--->'''Emmeryn:''' "I...I finally remember... But alas...I am too late... Lissa...Chrom...forgive me..."

-->"In the future, you used me as a guinea pig. You subjected me to all kinds of nasty curses on a day-to-day basis! But when it mattered, you used your magic [[HeroicSacrifice to sacrifice yourself]] [[RedemptionEqualsDeath and... save me]]. [[PleaseDontLeaveMe But try to leave me again, and I’ll hex you back a hundredfold!"]]

-->'''Frederick''': ''The cards only give a fleeting identity to the soul. When they return to the cards, that identity is lost forever. Depending on how you look at it, that's actually quite sad...''

** Bonus points go to Lyn, who in her DLC recruitment conversation, suspects that the Avatar is the tactician from ''Blazing Sword''. Picking the right dialog choices can convince her, and she's so happy to be reunited with them... Then she joins your army, and never speaks another word or shows any emotion or personality.

* As much of an asshole [[AxCrazy Gan]][[TheCaligula grel]] is ([[HeelFaceTurn or was]]), his special Hot Spring Scramble conversation with [[TraumaInducedAmnesia Emm]][[LaserGuidedAmnesia eryn]] surprisingly makes you feel ''terrible'' for him when [[TearsOfRemorse he breaks down in tears when he is convinced that]] [[ReformedButRejected he absolutely cannot be forgiven]] [[MoralEventHorizon for his past transgressions]].

--> ''"[[MayflyDecemberRomance I know that to love another, I must watch the world move past him]]. But such short years make an eternity worth living."''

-->Severa: You took my wallet, didn't you? You lousy little turd! Give it back this instant or I'll...I'll...*sniff*. [[MoodWhiplash The gold in there was a gift from my mother...before she died...]]

--->'''Laurent:''' ''I wish... I could have lived to see... what peace was... like...''

--->'''Yarne:''' ''I don't care if I die out... But please... not the others...''

---> '''Morgan:''' ''.....I already have this book. You gave it to me long ago. The notes and dog-ears are all exactly the same. ...I can't do it. I can't keep fighting. Up until now, my faith was unshakable. I was ready to kill my own friends... But I cannot strike down the kind and gentle mother/father I once knew... Forgive me, Master Grima. I must withdraw... I remain your servant and am ready to accept any punishment you see fit.''

--->'''Lucina:''' You needn't tell me how much I hate you... I...LOATHE you... But... If you were really Grima, why would you seek your own demise... And why does your voice now seem so... so painfully familiar? You're a human, aren't you — a person, like us? Grima is using you to-
--->'''Grima/Avatar:''' ...[[ThatManIsDead I am Grima!]] There is nothing human about me!
--->'''Lucina:''' ......\\

-->Alternate!Noire: "It's always gods, gods, Gods with you! Why? The Gods don't care about you! You devoted your life to them, and they let you die! Give thanks? [[RageAgainstTheHeavens I curse them every day]]! If they're so benevolent, why would they let this world get so bad? And why would they [[DisappearedDad take you away]] from us? You don't know what it was for [[TroubledAbuser Mo]][[AbusiveParents ther]] and I having to fend for ourselves! And you have no idea what it was like for me when your precious gods [[MissingMom took her away]] too!"

-->Alternate Gerome: That dastard was everything to me. If he wasn't teaching me the ways of war, he was drilling me on courtly behavior. He made me who I am, and I loved him. ...And then he died. He hurt me in the worst way imaginable!

* The '''entirety''' of the Future Past DLC maps. '''Everything''' about ''The Future Past'' is enough to rip your heart out. The conversations that the parents can have with their children in the ''Future Past DLC'' are heartwrenching, [[spoiler:since this version of the future is even worse than the one where the recruit-able children come from. The kids have nearly given up hope and are about to die until their moms and dads (who are explicitly different from their real parents) come to their aid. Despite this fact, the children are understandably driven to tears and even outright sobbing in some cases a great deal of the time when triggering the special conversations with their parents.]]
** One spectacularly tragic example is when [[spoiler:Lissa]] speaks to [[spoiler:Owain]] in the Future Past 2; he breaks down into tears, uncontrollably. [[spoiler:''[[LargeHam Owain]]''.]]
** And not just him, too. [[spoiler:Laurent]], when talking to his father, and ''[[spoiler:Gerome]]'', when talking to Cherche, will also be driven to tears when they talk to them, and unlike [[spoiler:Owain]], both of them are notoriously [[TheStoic stoic]] most of the time.
** [[spoiler:Laurent]]'s death quote from ''The Future Past 3'' is utterly heartwrenching, because it really drives home the fact that these poor kids have known ''nothing'' but death and despair since the day they were born. [[spoiler:And worse: If the children die, then they died ''never'' having known what it was like to live without fear.]] Furthermore, if you have [[spoiler:Miriel]] stand next to him, it activates a conversation between them where [[spoiler:Laurent]] gets excited because he thinks that [[spoiler:Miriel]] is the same one from his time, because [[spoiler:her body was never found]]. You can tell that [[spoiler:Miriel]] has a hard time bringing herself to convince him of the truth.
--->'''[[spoiler:Laurent]]:''' ''I wish... I could have lived to see... what peace was... like...''
** There's also [[spoiler:Yarne]]'s from ''The Future Past 2''. This guy has spent most what you've seen of him in his paralogue being a [[spoiler:LovableCoward]]. The last words of ''this'' iteration of him?
--->'''[[spoiler:Yarne]]:''' [[spoiler:''I don't care if I die out... But please... not the others...'']]
** If the Avatar is [[spoiler:Cynthia]]'s father, he gets so emotional that he flat out [[spoiler:offers to take her with him back to his world]].
** One of the subtler, but absolutely one of the most heartwrenching things from the maps, comes in the form of the boss characters of the first two Future Past maps. Who are they? [[spoiler:The two versions of Morgan, your character's normally eccentric, dorky, and lovable child.]] And they have absolutely no qualms about attacking the kids, who might even be [[spoiler:their siblings or ''parents'' depending on who was married]]. Think about it — consider how both of them are otherwise. They've been broken ''this'' much, enough for them to ruthlessly serve and slaughter under Grima.
*** Continuing on, you don't have to take them down. You can get them to retreat by [[spoiler:just positioning your Avatar next to them, and regardless of which one it is, they'll show regret and retreat. The Morgan of your Avatar's gender only shows sadness before warping away, which is sad on its own, but the one you can recruit gets a full conversation. They try as hard as they can to tear down every point or gesture your tactician makes towards them, being as dismissive and cold as possible and reaffirming their faith in Grima, until your character hands them a book — one of their favorite strategy books. Morgan tries to intimidate them by bringing up the possibility of it being used against them, but the Avatar just says they know they won't, because they remind them of "Someone very special to [them].", and then leaves and tells them they're glad they got to talk. Then we get this from Morgan:]]
---> '''[[spoiler:Morgan]]:''' ''.....I already have this book. You gave it to me long ago. The notes and dog-ears are all exactly the same. ...I can't do it. I can't keep fighting. Up until now, my faith was unshakable. I was ready to kill my own friends... But I cannot strike down [[spoiler:the kind and gentle mother/father I once knew...]] Forgive me, Master Grima. I must withdraw... I remain your servant and am ready to accept any punishment you see fit.''
*** To put it into perspective — [[spoiler:these poor kids]] are so broken from their normal selves and loyal that they're willing to cut down even those close to them. They do ''everything'' because they still see Grima as [[spoiler:the parent they loved so dearly]], and yet despite how hard they try to give the cold shoulder, they just ''can't'' bring themselves to hurt the reminder of that. Seeing either of the [[spoiler:Morgans]] act so utterly ruthless and different from their usual selves is tragic in itself, but seeing that remnant of them still in there is just heartbreaking.
*** After slaying [[spoiler:Grima]] in ''The Future Past 3'', [[spoiler:the Avatar's last words are to apologize to Morgan for putting them through so much pain and finally expressing gratitude that s/he is [[DyingAsYourself finally free from Grima]]]].

*** There is one blink-and-miss-it moment, as [[spoiler:Lucina strikes Grima down with the Exalted Falchion, where [[GameplayAndStoryIntegration the latter's map sprite turns green]]. Knowing that green units are addressed as NPC ''allies'' in-game, this means that the Avatar was able to regain control of their own body, and for the sole purpose of [[HeroicSacrifice voluntarily giving up their life to help the children end their despair and finally be at peace]]]].
** If [[spoiler:only Lucina survives]] in ''Future Past 3'', the conversation with [[spoiler:Grima once the Avatar temporarily wrests control back]] changes entirely. It goes from bittersweet, yet ultimately hopeful, to something that is a PlayerPunch at its finest, because the utter ''[[DespairEventHorizon despair]]'' in [[spoiler:the Avatar]]'s dialogue comes across so painfully clear. And while it's agonizing on its own, if [[spoiler:the Avatar is Lucina's mother or husband]], it adds a whole new dimension to the dialogue. ''Especially'' with this one exchange:
--->'''Lucina:''' [[spoiler:You needn't tell me how much I hate you... I...LOATHE you... But... If you were really Grima, why would you seek your own demise... And why does your voice now seem so... so painfully familiar? You're a human, aren't you — a person, like us? Grima is using you to-]]
--->'''[[spoiler:Grima/Avatar]]:''' [[spoiler:...[[ThatManIsDead I am Grima!]] There is nothing human about me!]]

'''[[spoiler:Grima/Avatar]]:''' [[spoiler:...I have always been the fell dragon... ...since the day I was born... ...I wish that I were human! That I could have lived a normal life with you! ...But I'm not, and I can't...]]
*** The full script for it can be found [[http://fireemblem.wikia.com/wiki/The_Future_Past_3/Script#At_Least_Lucina_Survives here]]. Beware of huge spoilers and massive heartbreak. One can only assume that the writers were very determined to make the player use up an entire box of Kleenex. This dialogue becomes even worse if [[spoiler:the Avatar is the father of Gerome, Laurent, or Severa, since it means Grima has now forced the Avatar to kill their own child]].
** Clear any Future Past chapter having failed to save ''even one'' of [[spoiler:the children]], and Chrom will take it very personally. Even with Naga comforting him with the fact that he managed to save even a few of the otherwise doomed unfortunates, Chrom still laments that he was unable to save ''all'' of them.
** If [[spoiler:Vaike]] is [[spoiler:Nah]]'s father, she'll question to his face if she's truly the daughter of their parents. [[SurroundedByIdiots Not in the lieu you would normally expet from her]], but because she feels unworthy of being their daughter because she completely gave up hope of rescue or getting the gemstones to Ylisse, when her parents never gave up.
** If Libra is [[spoiler:Noire]]'s father, he approaches the [[spoiler:Noire]] from that place and tells her to praise Naga for this chance to meet. It turns out this [[spoiler:Noire]] is [[TookALevelInCynic deeply broken and embittered about the Gods]] and replies [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF06TFF1piw with a heartbreaking speech about it]].
-->Alternate![[spoiler:Noire]]: "It's always gods, gods, Gods with you! Why? The Gods don't care about you! You devoted your life to them, [[spoiler:and they let you die]]! Give thanks? [[RageAgainstTheHeavens I curse them every day]]! If they're so benevolent, why would they [[spoiler:let this world get so bad]]? And why would they [[spoiler:[[DisappearedDad take you away]] from us]]? You don't know what it was for [[spoiler:[[TroubledAbuser Mo]][[AbusiveParents ther]] and I]] having to fend for ourselves! And you have no idea what it was like for me when [[spoiler:your precious gods [[MissingMom took her away]]]] too!"
*** This is also true if he's [[spoiler:Brady]]'s father. It's kind of shocking to see somebody that became a priest himself lose faith to the point of cursing the gods for abandoning them. [[spoiler:Owain]] is more subdued and optimistic than the other two, but he does mention spending days swearing ''at'' the gods. [[spoiler:Nah]], who has a number of supports bringing up Naga says that she's never been able to have faith prior to speaking with her father despite the fact that he was a priest. Meanwhile, [[spoiler:Yarne]] thinks he ought to be struck down where he stands for [[spoiler:leaving Inigo and Owain]], even if it was at their request.
** If Virion is [[spoiler:Gerome]]'s father, he senses no affection from the [[spoiler:Gerome]] from there and questions if the Virion of that world mistreated his child. [[spoiler:Gerome]]'s response is "In the worst way". For a split second, Virion gets a dose of AdultFear that he may have been an [[AbusiveParents abusive father]], but then [[spoiler:Gerome]] clarifies.
-->Alternate [[spoiler:Gerome]]: That dastard was everything to me. If he wasn't teaching me the ways of war, he was drilling me on courtly behavior. He made me who I am, and I loved him. ...[[spoiler:And then he died.]] He hurt me in the worst way imaginable!

* Chapter 10 is basically pure, condensed TearJerker in chapter form. As of [[WhamEpisode the previous chapter]], [[spoiler:your rescue mission was in vain, Emmeryn pulled a HeroicSuicide anyway, her [[TheLancer Lancer]] Phila is dead too, and Chrom is having a HeroicBSOD]]. Not only are you immediately greeted with a BattleInTheRain, but [[BGMOverride instead of the usual preparations theme]], you get [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxLcjA1BG_8 this.]] And then you begin the actual battle and [[SadBattleMusic are hit with]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIlEZjz_j8M THIS.]] As if it couldn't get any worse, ''none of the enemies actually want to fight you'', and [[AntiVillain the boss is one of the most sympathetic in the series.]] Ouch.
** The end of Chapter 9, [[spoiler:Emmeryn's HeroicSuicide]], is a huge TearJerker of itself. [[spoiler:Her lasts words, combined with Chrom's futile attempt at saving her while Lissa can only watch in horror]], combined with the fact that this is all shown in a beautiful cutscene... well, it might just cause you to stop playing for a moment to regain your composure.
*** During that cutscene, [[spoiler:just the expression on Lissa's face is pure TearJerker. Then she spends most of the post-Chapter 10 cutscene crying, up until everyone pulls Chrom out of his HeroicBSOD, which is ''incredibly'' jarring given her [[GenkiGirl regular personality]]]].
** [[spoiler:You find out later that Emmeryn had survived, but her memory and mental capacity are severely damaged as a result. Her solo epilogue is one of the most heartwrenching in that she never recovers from the trauma, but lives a secluded life in her simple happiness.]]
*** [[spoiler:Her death quote is the biggest kicker. Her memory returns in full just as she's dying. Her last words are her '''apologizing''' to Chrom and Lissa for her memory returning when it was too late.]]
** [[spoiler:It is also possible for the player to fail to save her in this Paralogue, and have her killed by the Grimleal. After the mission's conclusion, Chrom is naturally devastated at having to watch his sister be killed ''again''. This time, for real. It's as if the game itself is saying "Hey, player! How could you let that happen?! Are you ''that'' much of a terrible person?!".]]
* The scene after Chapter 13 where [[spoiler:"Marth" reveals herself to Chrom to be Lucina, his daughter, from the future. She then begins crying. Chrom wipes the tears from her face, she runs into his arms and starts sobbing on his shoulder.]] Also counts as a SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming Moment|s}}.
** If one is willing to read between the lines; Chrom just became a father. There's no doubt that he'd been considering his own relationship with his parents during this time. [[spoiler:He now sees that this mysterious ally from years ago was somehow his own daughter all along, and she inherited his sword, which most likely points to his death in her time. What does he do? Question the time-space continuum? Demand answers like he did before? No. He ''apologizes'' to her for apparently leaving her to fend for herself.]]
* Many of the children's dialogue with their parents verges into this, given that [[spoiler:they're all from a BadFuture where ''the parents are all dead'']]. Some of the individual children have pretty depressing backstories too.
** [[spoiler:Lucina]] is hit the hardest by this. She just wants to spend time with her father, because [[spoiler:in her time, he died before she got a chance to know him]].
** Cynthia with ''her'' father wants to spend time with him, because she knows that she must leave him when the Cynthia of this timeline is born, so as not to take any attention from her younger self. ''Every'' single one of her prospective fathers [[CryCute tears up at the revelation]], and then ''she'' is the one who has to comfort him and explain how she feels... Yes, even guys as unlikely to cry as [[spoiler:[[TeamDad Frederick]]]] and [[spoiler:[[CutePsycho Henry]]]] end up driven to tears... '''Damn'''.
*** If she's Lucina's sibling, it's even worse, since [[spoiler:Chrom]] probably died before she was old enough to know him, and these memories will be ''all'' she gets.

*** Yeah, with Lon'qu as his dad, he had kept on following him, and when asked why, it was because in the future he's from, [[spoiler:Lon'qu left one day to fight... and didn't come back]].

** Noire developed a severely traumatised personality as a result of a combination of AbusiveParents and ParentalNeglect [[spoiler:coming from Tharja [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge COMPLETELY snapping]] after the death of her husband]]. Now she constantly swings between a ShrinkingViolet and ''a completely psychopathic'' ''BloodKnight''. She's also ''terrified'' and paranoid of curses. [[spoiler:And for worse, she's also traumatised by how Tharja, the same person who mistreated her, ''died in a HeroicSacrifice for her''.]] As Noire herself explains...
-->"In the future, you used me as a guinea pig. You subjected me to all kinds of nasty curses on a day-to-day basis! [[spoiler:But when it mattered, you used your magic [[HeroicSacrifice to sacrifice yourself]] [[RedemptionEqualsDeath and... save me]].]] [[PleaseDontLeaveMe But try to leave me again, and I’ll hex you back a hundredfold!"]]

*** For extra sting, according to a bonus panel conversation, [[spoiler:the last conversation between she and her mother was a nasty argument over Cordelia's devotion to Chrom]]. Severa regrets it enough to [[NeverGotToSayGoodbye drive her to tears]], [[SandInMyEyes though she tries to brush it off]].
** Like Severa, Gerome's parents went out to fight, [[spoiler:and only Minerva came back]]. This left him cold and emotionally distant.
** Owain's supports with his father reveal that [[spoiler:his father was killed protecting him in a battle]]. This applies [[spoiler:even when the Avatar is his father]].

*** In the case of a female Morgan with an older sibling[[spoiler:, her older sibling will admit how it hurts that they're pretty much a complete stranger to their younger sister [[PromotionToParent when they raised her in place of their late parents]]. In the support, both of them become conflicted over retrieving her lost memories as well: Morgan believes it may be impossible and not worth it when the strain from the attempts to regain her her memory horrify her older sibling, while the sibling worries the memory loss was caused by something extremely traumatizing for her.]]

** As for Nah, supports with her father reveal that [[spoiler:she never got to know her parents before they died, and she was sent to be raised by a foster family after their death. Unfortunately, they reviled her because she was part dragon and never accepted her, even with her going above and beyond in doing chores, defending them from the Risen, and never asking for anything in return.]]
** Laurent's father struggles to relate with his son and ends up learning that [[spoiler:Laurent got separated from the others and ended up three years farther in the past. He was all alone for ''five years''. He even says there were times when he felt like he'd end up dying alone]]. And stepping on an event tile reveals that [[spoiler:his mother Miriel's body was never recovered]].
** Inigo, as revealed in his supports with his father, is such a [[ThePollyanna Pollyanna]] because [[spoiler:he has taken it upon himself to seem invincible so that his fellow BadFuture allies wouldn't lose hope. He couldn't even show show any negative emotion about his issues or acknowledge any injuries because his allies might lose hope. [[StepfordSmiler Oh, boy]]...]]
*** A conversation with Owain in Harvest Scramble reveals that [[spoiler:he couldn't sleep for days when he first came back in time and got separated from the others]].
** Brady is surprisingly the most well-adjusted of the children, forming a good friendship with his own father even in their support. [[spoiler:The A Support reveals that this is because he had accepted that he has to leave his parents alone when the timeline's Brady is born, despite how much he loves them.]]

* Say'ri and Yen'fay, [[spoiler:two siblings that never understood each other until one or the other dies. In the main storyline, Yen'fay joined Walhart's army to protect Say'ri and died for it: bonus points if [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential Say'ri herself was the attacker]]. In the BadFuture, it was Yen'fay who survived, Say'ri was killed, and his self-esteem is shot because of his failure to protect her.]] [[SurvivorGuilt Yeah.]]
** Furthermore, [[spoiler:in most cases it's FridgeLogic as to why the [=SpotPass=] characters like Emmeryn can't support with Chrom and Lissa. With Yen'fay and Say'ri, you get the sense that [[ItsNotYouItsMe he's deliberately avoiding her]], so he won't get emotionally attached to a girl who's the sister of his alternate self and whom he will have to leave in the end.]].
** By [[spoiler:making Say'ri do battle with and kill Yen'fay with her own hands, it is implied that Yen'fay went easy on her during their fight. Not only that, in the Japanese version at least, he sees that his sister has found strong comrades to find alongside with, and wishes her good luck on her path with Chrom's army to help her. It ends with Say'ri [[SayMyName yelling for her brother as he dies]]]].
* After Chapter 21, [[spoiler:Lucina]] confronts the Avatar and reveals that [[spoiler:[[EtTuBrute he/she was the one who murdered Chrom in the Bad Future timeline]]]]. Even if it's not the Avatar's own free will, there's still possibility that he/she is [[spoiler:Validar's]] mind-controlled ManchurianAgent. In order to prevent Chrom's death from happening in this timeline, she has to kill you before you kill Chrom. You are even given the option to accept [[spoiler:Lucina's]] judgement or not.
** If you [[FaceDeathWithDignity accept her judgment]] and are married to [[spoiler:Lucina]], you'll also remind her that your life had always been hers and you would gladly give your life for Chrom and especially for her. All you ask in return is that she'll find someone else who will take care of her so she won't ever be alone. [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy All you want for her is to be happy.]] Immediately afterwards, [[spoiler:Lucina]] has a [[WhatHaveIBecome "My Gods, What Am I Doing?"]] moment of what was she about to do and exclaims that [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments she can't do it because she loves you too much]]. She then quickly apologizes and asks for your forgiveness.
** If you refuse her judgement and are married to her, the Avatar still refuses to actually defend himself and exclaims that he'd rather die than fight her. He then explains that while he'd gladly give his life for her, he'd also give anything to BE with her. [[spoiler:Lucina]] almost immediately admits that she wants the exact same thing, to be with him forever. [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments She then states that she can't bring herself to do it, as she loves him too much.]]
** The scene is similarly powerful if [[spoiler:the Avatar is Lucina's mother, where she'll tell Lucina that she'll put the happiness of her family above her own life. Like a male Avatar, she tells Lucina that her life is and always has been Lucina's, and Lucina breaks down in tears, saying she can't bear to commit matricide. If you refuse to accept Lucina's judgment, the Avatar likewise states that she'd rather die than point a blade at her own daughter]].
* The turn 3 conversation with the Female Avatar and Lucina, if she's her mother, in the Hot Springs Scramble DLC map. Lucina directly addresses the main problems of her staying with the Avatar and Chrom, even if they all wanted it; particularly the confusion it would cause to those around her. Undeterred, the Avatar promises Lucina to find a way to make it all work, so that they would all be together. But when the Avatar leaves, Lucina insists to herself that the memories they have made together were more than enough to fill the void in their heart, even when they would inevitably part ways. This is even worse if you got all of Lucina's parent supports; they both end with Chrom and the Avatar promising to never leave her, yet this conversation proves that Lucina ''knows'' that the roadblocks are simply too insurmountable. [[spoiler:And as if confirming this, in Lucina's solo ending she tells her infant self that she will have a happy future before leaving Ylisse forever, never again seen by her friends or family]].

* Chrom and Lucina's A Support conversation, which is the first (or second) time she [[spoiler:ever gets to have her father comfort her]].

* Libra, one of the gentlest figures in the game, [[spoiler:was abandoned by his parents when they believed he was possessed by a demon]]. The sheer darkness in his heart created by the pain and trauma scares even ''[[NightmareFetishist Tharja]]'', who is ''very'' obviously disturbed in their A support.
** Libra's supports with Nowi reveal that he [[ScarsAreForever still has a scar on his neck]] from [[spoiler:his mother pulling him away from her]], showing just how bad his parents were before they abandoned him. Not helping is that the same conversations have him mentioning how unused to human contact he is. Really, some of Libra's supports put him straight into [[TheWoobie woobie territory]].
* The use of [[spoiler:the WhatIsOneMansLifeInComparison trope, and the IronicEcho the Avatar uses it to Chrom as]] is one of the most tearjerking uses of the trope ''ever''.

** Another one in Harvest Scramble is between Severa and Cynthia, where Severa remembers that when they were really little, Cynthia was actually the girliest and more passive of them all, and her current {{Tomboy}}ish personality and obsession with being a hero developed as a response to [[spoiler:Sumia's death in their timeline, so that she'd never have to lose a loved one again.]]

* As much of an asshole [[spoiler:[[AxCrazy Gan]][[TheCaligula grel]]]] is ([[spoiler:[[HeelFaceTurn or was]]]]), his special Hot Spring Scramble conversation with [[spoiler:[[TraumaInducedAmnesia Emm]][[LaserGuidedAmnesia eryn]]]] surprisingly makes you feel ''terrible'' for him when [[spoiler:[[TearsOfRemorse he breaks down in tears when he is convinced that]] [[ReformedButRejected he absolutely cannot be forgiven]] [[MoralEventHorizon for his past transgressions]]]].
* Speaking of Hot Spring Scramble and [[spoiler:Emmeryn]], she can talk to both Chrom and Lissa on the same map. During these conversations, Lissa mentions how sad she and Chrom were after [[spoiler:Emmeryn's HeroicSacrifice]] and how she herself [[spoiler:had wished to be dead just to be with her sister]]. She also mentions that when [[spoiler:Emmeryn was found alive after all]], Chrom of all people [[spoiler:cried tears of happiness and prayed to Naga, thanking her]].
** And when it comes to Chrom himself, when he speaks to [[spoiler:Emmeryn]], he reveals how much he regrets all the actions that have lead to [[spoiler:her HeroicSacrifice]] and how he wouldn't want to ever put her in danger again. He even contemplates leaving her in the outrealm dimension for the time being, so she can recover. The biggest kicker, however, is how Chrom of all people [[spoiler:''starts crying in front of Emmeryn'']] and the dialogue and especially her voiced line (in the Japanese dub at least) implies she has to comfort him. This alone shows how the drama around [[spoiler:Emmeryn]] has utterly ''broken'' Chrom.

* Gregor and Tharja's A support, where Gregor [[spoiler:asks Tharja to help him contact the spirit of his dead brother. It turns out Gregor took the name of the brother he'd failed to protect from bandits, and the reason her curses didn't work on him was that because the live Gregor took his late brother's name as his own, her hexes and curses didn't work on him as she doesn't know the live Gregor's real name. Gregor ''cries'' while begging his brother's forgiveness for being unable to save him, and afterwards Tharja is ''too tired'' to steal his soul like she'd said she would]]. Also counts as MoodWhiplash since their C and B supports were played for comedy, with her annoyed by his constant attempts at conversation.
* Something of a TearJerker in hindsight, but after [[spoiler:Lucina]] reveals herself, the end of Chapter 9 becomes ''even more'' depressing. When you remember that she showed up then, it makes you realize that [[spoiler:she had to watch her aunt die. While she feels like she failed her mission, she can't say anything about how she just watched a family member die or help comfort Chrom and Lissa]].
* The [[spoiler:Sacrifice]] ending, while awesome [[spoiler:and the Avatar does get better, at that point everyone thought that the Avatar '''is''' KilledOffForReal]].
** That same ending is even more tearjerking if the Avatar is married to Chrom. [[spoiler:''Chrom is watching his very own wife literally die before his eyes.'' It's even worse if you take in to account that Chrom (and Lucina) must have been absolutely heartbroken (especially after the promises they made to stay together), and mourning for Grima-knows-how-long before finding the Avatar again in the final cutscene.]] And even if s/he isn't married to Chrom, it's still [[spoiler:the second time he's had to watch somebody important to him [[NotAfraidToDie knowingly and willingly]] go to their death — even if it ''is'' [[WhatIsOneMansLifeInComparison for the greater good]] — without being able to do anything to stop it]].
*** Not just Chrom. You know who else once watched someone he loved [[spoiler:sacrifice themselves to save them]], and ended up scarred for life? A Female Avatar that marries [[spoiler:Lon'qu]] and [[spoiler:sacrifices herself]] is basically putting him through that trauma again on a much grander scale. This is only slightly mitigated by the fact that he [[spoiler:believes she'll return]], but it still couldn't be easy for him to watch.
*** Similarily to example above, [[spoiler:sacrificing yourself]] is basically forcing [[spoiler:Cordelia]] to watch ''once again'' as [[spoiler:her comrade gives his/her life to let her live safely]]. This goes double if you married her to Avatar — [[spoiler:you helped her overcome her SurvivorGuilt, and now you too abandon her]]...
*** In fact, seeing [[spoiler:you sacrifice yourself]] has to be painful for an alarming number of characters, doubly so if they're your spouse. Lissa? [[spoiler:See Chrom's section.]] Panne? [[spoiler:Has dealt with losing her entire species. If you marry her, you vow to be her new family, and now you're leaving her, too.]] Gregor? [[spoiler:Felt so guilty over his brother's death that he discarded his own name.]] Nowi? [[spoiler:Has been alone for a millenium, and is now losing you well before she hoped for.]] Ditto for Tiki, who has the additional pain of [[spoiler:already having lost all of her old companions]]. Libra? [[spoiler:Abandoned by his parents and the SoleSurvivor of his group of fellow monks.]] Say'ri? [[spoiler:Still dealing with the loss of her brother and learning of his sacrifice.]] Henry? [[spoiler:Had his surrogate parent killed when she tried to visit him and is all sorts of unstable.]] Literally any of the child characters? [[spoiler:Have lived through a BadFuture where their parents all died. Whether they're your child or your spouse, you're putting them through the trauma of losing their loved one again.]] And how about those [[spoiler:Spot Pass characters]]? [[spoiler:You give Gangrel and Aversa hope that they can change. With Yen'fay, you give him something to live for besides acting as a living weapon atoning for the death of his sister.]]
*** In a HarsherInHindsight way, Lucina, not too long ago, [[spoiler:wanted to kill the Avatar in order to prevent Chrom's death and her bad future. She relents because she was convinced that everyone's bonds would win out in the end of it all. Come to this moment and the Avatar sacrifices themself in order to permanently kill Grima. So in the end, the Avatar still died to save Chrom, their friends and family, and the world. It's even worse if you accepted Lucina's judgement because in a way, the Avatar has already confirmed that they will lay down their life for the people that they love, regardless if Lucina has a relationship with them or not. If the Avatar was her mother, then Lucina traveled back in time to save her father, but then sees her mother die before her. And if the Avatar was her husband, then Lucina fell in love with a man who she pointed her sword at to save his best friend and her father, only to have him die for both of them later.]] Lucina just doesn't get a break no matter what timeline she's in.
*** Consider Cordelia, Lissa, and Olivia, whose children from the future disappear to show up in Fire Emblem: Fates what seems like only recently after Awakening's ending. [[spoiler:If they're married to the Avatar, it's possible, nay, probable that their children left before he was found, leaving them, for a time, completely alone but for a daughter they know little about and that can't remember them.]]
*** And then that brings up that [[spoiler:the only parent Morgan can remember is gone and they're left alone and alienated with a family they know next to nothing about]].

* In chapter 10, after Tharja joins [[spoiler:and Emmeryn dies]], have her kill someone and she'll say, "You deserved worse." Just a kill quote, but very fitting.

* [[spoiler:Emmeryn's]] ending is pretty melancholy. [[spoiler:She never regains her memories, and goes to live in Regna Ferox as a normal woman. Consider that she became Exalt at the age of nine, in control of a country full of people who hated her and threw things at her as she tried to make things right... it's nice that she finally gets a break, but it's still sad.]]
** It gets worse. [[spoiler:Emmeryn ''can'' recover her memories, if you're playing on Classic Mode... ''in her permakill death quote.'']]
--->[[spoiler:'''Emmeryn:''' "I...I finally remember... But alas...I am too late... Lissa...Chrom...forgive me..."]]
* The Infinite Regalia DLC map. Put the first generation characters on the front lines, and they'll make comments about how the Deadlords seem to have been great warriors that they regret having to fight. But put the children first, and their comments take on an even more depressing and horrifying implications that [[spoiler:the Deadlords are alternate versions of their parents, turned into Risen enemies. While Kjelle will comment she has little will to fight, and Gerome says that Minerva's reaction reminds him of when his parents died, you also get Lucina noticing the brand of Naga on one of the Deadlords, or Yarne sensing a taguel among them. Then there's Tiki's battle quote, which stops ''just'' short of outright saying it:]]
--> [[spoiler:Tiki: "I... know you. That grisly guise you wear is not enough to blind me. You died to protect something. Will you now destroy it? Then know I will stop you — to honor your last wish and defend the children."]]

* In Tharja and Nowi's supports, Nowi asks Tharja if she can find her parents using dark magic. Tharja eventually replies that they are in an unidentified land, far, far away. [[spoiler:When in fact, Nowi's parents have been dead for centuries.]]
* In his solo ending, it's implied that Henry [[spoiler:kills himself]].

* A rather small one, but in Chrom and Vaike's B Support Conversation, Chrom tells Vaike that the two of them should go easy on each other when they're fighting. This is because Lissa was upset after the last fight, so much so that she was crying and saying that they took the sparring way too seriously. Bear in mind, it is entirely possible to get this after [[WhamEpisode Chapter 9]], [[spoiler:where Chrom and Lissa both watch Emmeryn walk to her death]].

* The '''entirety''' of the Future Past DLC maps. '''Everything''' about ''The Future Past'' is enough to rip your heart out. The conversations that the parents can have with their children in the ''Future Past DLC'' are heartwrenching[[spoiler:, since this version of the future is even worse than the one where the recruit-able children come from. The kids have nearly given up hope and are about to die until their moms and dads (who are explicitly different from their real parents) come to their aid. Despite this fact, the children are understandably driven to tears and even outright sobbing in some cases a great deal of the time when triggering the special conversations with their parents.]]

--->'''Lucina:''' ......
--->'''[[spoiler:Grima/Avatar]]:''' [[spoiler:...I have always been the fell dragon... ...since the day I was born... ...I wish that I were human! That I could have lived a normal life with you! ...But I'm not, and I can't...]]

* The scene after Chapter 13 where [[spoiler:"Marth" reveals herself to Chrom to be Lucina, his daughter, from the future. She then begins crying. Chrom wipes the tears from her face, she runs into his arms and starts sobbing on his shoulder.]] Also counts as a HeartwarmingMoment.

** Gets even worse if Noire's father is the Avatar, as that means that her father is, in a way, responsible for causing Tharja to snap. There is some [[HeartwarmingMoments heartwarming]] here, though, in that Future!Tharja seems to have kept it a secret so Noire would continue to think well of her father.

** If you [[FaceDeathWithDignity accept her judgment]] and are married to [[spoiler:Lucina]], you'll also remind her that your life had always been hers and you would gladly give your life for Chrom and especially for her. All you ask in return is that she'll find someone else who will take care of her so she won't ever be alone. [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy All you want for her is to be happy.]] Immediately afterwards, [[spoiler:Lucina]] has a [[WhatHaveIBecome "My Gods, What Am I Doing?"]] moment of what was she about to do and exclaims that [[HeartwarmingMoments she can't do it because she loves you too much]]. She then quickly apologizes and asks for your forgiveness.
** If you refuse her judgement and are married to her, the Avatar still refuses to actually defend himself and exclaims that he'd rather die than fight her. He then explains that while he'd gladly give his life for her, he'd also give anything to BE with her. [[spoiler:Lucina]] almost immediately admits that she wants the exact same thing, to be with him forever. [[HeartwarmingMoments She then states that she can't bring herself to do it, as she loves him too much.]]

** The conversation with the Male Avatar and Lucina, if they're married, goes similar to the above. He starts talking about how he hopes they'll still be "sneaking off" when they're [[GrowOldWithMe old and gray]], and she sadly says it's likely impossible, as she'll have to return to her own timeline -- and even if she can't, she just doesn't see how she can stay with him, since he's Chrom's tactician and she can't stay with Chrom. Unlike the example above, though, the conversation then takes a turn for the [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming heartwarming]], as the Male Avatar promises her that he'll always stay by her side and find a way to make things work out -- and she believes him.

* Part ArtificialStupidity, part VideogameCrueltyPotential, but some of the children characters (most notably Cynthia and possibly Yarne) initially start off as enemies. Which means it's entirely possible, if you're [[EpicFail stupid]] or [[VideogameCrueltyPotential cruel]] enough, to have them go back in time to save the future... ''only to be unwittingly killed by their own parents!!'' Granted, it's rare for this to happen, but when it does... [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone the game does its best]] [[WhattheHellPlayer to make sure you feel]] [[YouBastard AWFUL about it.]]

** Tiki's conversation with Nowi highlights just how [[WhoWantsToLiveForever painful being a Manakete can be.]] When asked about stars, Tiki explains that they remind her of all the friends and loved ones she's lost over the centuries and how she sometimes spends nights just looking into the sky and weeping. She even admits that she knows her new friends like Chrom and the Avatar will also end up among the stars someday (made even worse if [[MayflyDecemberRomance she's married to the Avatar]]). Nowi, [[PluckyGirl being Nowi]], instantly changes her outlook by saying how wonderful it must be to look up and see all of your old friends looking back down at you every night. The normally serene Tiki breaks down crying and [[HeartwarmingMoments asks Nowi to go stargazing with her later,]] leading to [[http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130423110350/fireemblem/images/f/f8/Tiki_and_Nono.JPG this.]]

* Nowi and Vaike's support conversations reveal that Nowi may be more deeply affected about [[WhoWantsToLiveForever a Manakete's lifespan]] than she lets on. She spends three out of the four of them being depressed about how, eventually, [[WeAreAsMayflies she will outlive everyone she knows]] and that she's ''terrified'' of being left alone. Mind you, there are some elements of [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments Heartwarming]] in there as well with Vaike consoling her, telling her that [[YouAreNotAlone even after he's dead, he'll always be with her]].

** Then again, neither Cordelia or the Avatar ever mention Chrom at any point in their supports, instead focusing on her SurvivorGuilt. It is, however, possible that Cordelia has developed a low self-esteem since the biggest crush she's ever had ended up going unrequited, so she may have thought that nobody could ever ''possibly'' love her romantically. With this in mind, her trying to pass it off as a joke sounds more like she simply doesn't believe this new person she's fallen in love with actually loves her back. She could simply be nervous and hesitant at first because she's terrified of pursuing a relationship with someone, because she genuinely can't picture herself being happy in love. If one reads it this way, the fact that she ecstatically accepts the Avatar's proposal means she managed to overcome that fear and took the chance at happiness, making it a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming.
* Henry and Ricken's B-Support, which reveals a few things about the Plegian commanders that will probably make you feel bad for killing them.

* Gregor and Tharja's A support, where Gregor [[spoiler:asks Tharja to help him contact the spirit of his dead brother. It turns out Gregor took the name of the brother he'd failed to protect from bandits, and the reason her curses didn't work on him was that the dead Gregor still had unfinished business. Gregor ''cries'' while begging his brother's forgiveness for being unable to save him, and afterwards Tharja is ''too tired'' to steal his soul like she'd said she would]]. Also counts as MoodWhiplash since their C and B supports were played for comedy, with her annoyed by his constant attempts at conversation.

** Then again, neither Cordelia or the Avatar ever mention Chrom at any point in their supports, instead focusing on her SurvivorGuilt. It is, however, possible that Cordelia has developed a low self-esteem since the biggest crush she's ever had ended up going unrequited, so she may have thought that nobody could ever ''possibly'' love her romantically. With this in mind, her trying to pass it off as a joke sounds more like she simply doesn't believe this new person she's fallen in love with actually loves her back. She could simply be nervous and hesitant at first because she's terrified of pursuing a relationship with someone, because she genuinely can't picture herself being happy in love. If one reads it this way, the fact that she ecstatically accepts the Avatar's proposal means she managed to overcome that fear and took the chance at happiness, making it a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming.

*** This is also true if he's [[spoiler:Brady]]'s father. It's kind of shocking to see somebody that became a priest himself lose faith to the point of cursing the gods for abandoning them. [[spoiler:Owain]] is more subdued and optimistic than the other two, but he does mention spending days swearing ''at'' the gods. Meanwhile, [[spoiler:Yarne]] thinks he ought to be struck down where he stands for [[spoiler:leaving Inigo and Owain]], even if it was at their request.

*** This is also true if he's [[spoiler:Brady]]'s father. It's kind of shocking to see somebody that became a priest himself lose faith to the point of cursing the gods for abandoning them.

** [[spoiler:Laurent]]'s death quote from ''The Future Past 3'' is utterly heartwrenching, because it really drives home the fact that these poor kids have known ''nothing'' but death and despair since the day they were born. [[spoiler:And worse: If the children die, then they died ''never'' having known what it was like to live without fear]]. Furthermore, if you have [[spoiler:Miriel]] stand next to him, it activates a conversation between them where [[spoiler:Laurent]] gets excited because he thinks that [[spoiler:Miriel]] is the same one from his time, because [[spoiler:her body was never found]]. You can tell that [[spoiler:Miriel]] has a hard time bringing herself to convince him of the truth.

--->'''[[spoiler:Yarne]]:''' [[spoiler:''I don't care if I die out... But please...not the others...'']]

** One of the subtler, but absolutely one of the most heartwrenching things from the maps, comes in the form of the boss characters first two Future Past maps. Who are they? [[spoiler: The two versions of Morgan, your character's normally eccentric, dorky, and lovable child.]] And they have absolutely no qualms about attacking the kids, who might even be [[spoiler: their siblings or ''parents'' depending on who was married.]] Think about it - Consider how both of them are otherwise. They've been broken ''this'' much, enough for them to ruthlessly serve and slaughter under Grima.
*** Continuing on, you don't have to take them down. You can get them to retreat by [[spoiler: just positioning your Avatar next to them, and regardless of which one it is, they'll show regret and retreat. The Morgan of your Avatar's gender only shows sadness before warping away, which is sad on its own, but the one you can recruit gets a full conversation. They try as hard as they can to tear down every point or gesture your tactician makes towards them, being as dismissive and cold as possible and reaffirming their faith in Grima, until your character hands them a book - One of their favorite strategy books. Morgan tries to intimidate them by bringing up the possibility of it being used against them, but the Avatar just says they know they won't, because they remind them of "Someone very special to [them].", and then leaves and tells them they're glad they got to talk. Then we get this from Morgan:]]
---> '''[[spoiler:Morgan]]:''' ''.....I already have this book. You gave it to me long ago. The notes and dog-ears are all exactly the same. ...I can't do it. I can't keep fighting. Up until now, my faith was unshakable. I was ready to kill my own friends... But I cannot strike down [[spoiler: the kind and gentle mother/father I once knew...]] Forgive me, Master Grima. I must withdraw... I remain your servant and am ready to accept any punishment you see fit.''
*** To put it into perspective - [[spoiler: These poor kids]] are so broken from their normal selves and loyal that they're willing to cut down even those close to them. They do ''everything'' because they still see Grima as [[spoiler: the parent they loved so dearly]], and yet despite how hard they try to give the cold shoulder, they just ''can't'' bring themselves to hurt the reminder of that. Seeing either of the [[spoiler: Morgans]] so utterly ruthless and different from their usual selves is tragic in itself, but seeing that remnant of them still in there is just heartbreaking.
*** After slaying [[spoiler:Grima]] in ''The Future Past 3'', [[spoiler:the Avatar's last words are to apologize to Morgan for putting them through so much pain and finally expressing gratitude that s/he is [[DyingAsYourself finally free from Grima]].]]
** Heck, the Future Past version of Avatar in general, from sending Chrom and party back to their world with little control they have left in fear that s/he might end up killing Chrom again to pleading with the Future Past version children to end their misery while they still can.
*** There is one blink-and-miss moment, as [[spoiler:Lucina strikes Grima down with the Exalted Falchion, where [[GameplayAndStoryIntegration the latter's map sprite turns green]]. Knowing that green units are addressed as NPC ''allies'' in-game, this means that the Avatar was able to regain control of their own body, and for the sole purpose of [[HeroicSacrifice voluntarily giving up their life to help the children end their despair and finally be at peace]].]]

--->'''Lucina:''' [[spoiler:You needn't tell me how much I hate you... I...LOATHE you... But... If you were really Grima, why would you seek your own demise... And why does your voice now seem so...so painfully familiar? You're a human, aren't you--a person, like us? Grima is using you to--]]
--->'''[[spoiler:Grima/Avatar]]:''' [[spoiler:...[[ThatManIsDead I am Grima]]! There is nothing human about me!]]

*** The full script for it can be found [[http://fireemblem.wikia.com/wiki/The_Future_Past_3/Script#At_Least_Lucina_Survives here]]. Beware of huge spoilers and massive heartbreak. One can only assume that the writers were very determined to make the player use up an entire box of Kleenex. This dialogue becomes even worse if [[spoiler: the Avatar is the father of Gerome, Laurent, or Severa, since it means Grima has now forced the Avatar to kill their own child]].

** If [[spoiler: Vaike]] is [[spoiler: Nah]]'s father, she'll question to his face if she's truly the daughter of their parents. [[SurroundedByIdiots Not in the lieu you would normally expet from her]], but because she feels unworthy of being their daughter because she completely gave up hope of rescue or getting the gemstones to Ylisse, when her parents never gave up.
** If Libra is [[spoiler: Noire]]'s father, he approaches the [[spoiler: Noire]] from that place and tells her to praise Naga for this chance to meet. It turns out this [[spoiler: Noire]] is [[TookALevelInCynic deeply broken and embittered about the Gods]] and replies [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF06TFF1piw with a heartbreaking speech about it]].
-->Alternate![[spoiler: Noire]]: "It's always gods, gods, Gods with you! Why? The Gods don't care about you! You devoted your life to them, [[spoiler: and they let you die]]! Give thanks? [[RageAgainstTheHeavens I curse them every day]]! If they're so benevolent, why would they [[spoiler: let this world get so bad]]? And why would they [[spoiler: [[DisappearedDad take you away]] from us]]? You don't know what it was for [[spoiler: [[TroubledAbuser Mo]][[AbusiveParents ther]] and I]] having to fend for ourselves! And you have no idea what it was like for me when [[spoiler: your precious gods [[MissingMom took her away]]]] too!"
*** This is also true if he's [[spoiler: Brady]]'s father. It's kind of shocking to see somebody that became a priest himself lose faith to the point of cursing the gods for abandoning them.
* Chapter 10 is basically pure, condensed TearJerker in chapter form. As of [[WhamEpisode the previous chapter]], [[spoiler:your rescue mission was in vain, Emmeryn pulled a HeroicSuicide anyway, her [[TheLancer Lancer]] Phila is dead too, and Chrom is having a HeroicBSOD.]] Not only are you immediately greeted with a BattleInTheRain, but [[BGMOverride instead of the usual preparations theme]], you get [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxLcjA1BG_8 this.]] And then you begin the actual battle and [[SadBattleMusic are hit with]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIlEZjz_j8M THIS.]] As if it couldn't get any worse, ''none of the enemies actually want to fight you'', and [[AntiVillain the boss is one of the most sympathetic in the series.]] Ouch.

** [[spoiler: It is also possible for the player to fail to save her in this Paralogue, and have her killed by the Grimleal. After the mission's conclusion, Chrom is naturally devastated at having to watch his sister be killed ''again''. This time, for real. It's as if the game itself is saying "Hey, player! How could you let that happen?! Are you ''that'' much of a terrible person?!"]].

* Many of the children's dialogue with their parents verges into this, given that [[spoiler:they're all from a BadFuture where ''the parents are all dead''.]] Some of the individual children have pretty depressing backstories too.
** [[spoiler:Lucina]] is hit the hardest by this. She just wants to spend time with her father, because [[spoiler:in her time, he died before she got a chance to know him.]]

*** Yeah, with Lon'qu as his dad, he had kept on following him, and when asked why, it was because in the future he's from, [[spoiler:Lon'qu left one day to fight...and didn't come back]].
*** Also sort of applies to anyone as his father. In at least the one with Ricken, Ricken realizes that the reason Yarne doesn't quite believe him when he says he'll never cheat on Panne is because the last conversation his future self ever had with the child Yarne was a promise to come back...and he obviously never did. Thus, Yarne associates him with a broken promise, and in their A support, Ricken promises to never leave him again.

-->"In the future, you used me as a guinea pig. You subjected me to all kinds of nasty curses on a day-to-day basis! [[spoiler:But when it mattered, you used your magic [[HeroicSacrifice to sacrifice yourself]] [[RedemptionEqualsDeath and...save me]].]] [[PleaseDontLeaveMe But try to leave me again, and I’ll hex you back a hundredfold!" ]]

** Severa completely dissociates herself from most people because she's afraid of getting her emotions betrayed after watching her father and "perfect" mother promise to come back...and never fulfill it. Because of the association with the latter, she also takes failure really, really hard.

** Owain's supports with his father reveal that [[spoiler:his father was killed protecting him in a battle.]] This applies [[spoiler: even when the Avatar is his father]].

*** In the case of a female Morgan with and older sibling[[spoiler:, her older sibling will admit how it hurts that they're pretty much a complete stranger to their younger sister [[PromotionToParent when they raised her in place of their late parents.]] In the support, both of them become conflicted over retrieving her lost memories as well: Morgan believes it may be impossible and not worth it when the strain from the attempts to regain her her memory horrify her older sibling, while the sibling worries the memory loss was caused by something extremely traumatizing for her.]]

** Laurent's father struggles to relate with his son and ends up learning that [[spoiler:Laurent got separated from the others and ended up three years farther in the past. He was all alone for ''five years''. He even says there were times when he felt like he'd end up dying alone.]] And stepping on an event tile reveals that [[spoiler:his mother Miriel's body was never recovered]].

* InUniverse example: Panne's backstory reduces Ricken to tears and he fully acknowledges that her life would have been so much better if not for what humans did to her people. She's moved by the fact that he's the first human to ever shed tears over what happened to her.
* Say'ri and Yen'fay, [[spoiler:two siblings that never understood each other until one or the other dies. In the main storyline, Yen'fay joined Walhart's army to protect Say'ri and died for it, bonus points if [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential Say'ri herself was the attacker]]. In the BadFuture, it was Yen'fay who survived, Say'ri was killed, and his self-esteem is shot because of his failure to protect her.]] [[SurvivorGuilt Yeah.]]

* After Chapter 21, [[spoiler:Lucina]] confronts the Avatar and reveals that [[spoiler:[[EtTuBrute he/she was the one who murdered Chrom in the Bad Future timeline]]]]. Even if it's not the Avatar's own free will, there's still possibility that he/she is [[spoiler:Validar's]] mind controlled ManchurianAgent. In order to prevent Chrom's death from happening in this timeline, she has to kill you before you kill Chrom. You are even given the option to accept [[spoiler:Lucina's]] judgement or not.
** If you [[FaceDeathWithDignity accept her judgment]] and are married to [[spoiler:Lucina]], you'll also remind her that your life had always been hers and you would gladly give your life for Chrom and especially for her. All you ask in return is that she'll find someone else who will take care of her so she won't ever be alone. [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy All you want for her is to be happy]]. Immediately afterwards, [[spoiler:Lucina]] has a [[WhatHaveIBecome "My Gods, What Am I Doing?"]] moment of what was she about to do and exclaims that [[HeartwarmingMoments she can't do it because she loves you too much]]. She then quickly apologizes and asks for your forgiveness.

** The conversation with the Male Avatar and Lucina, if they're married, goes similar to the above. He starts talking about how he hopes they'll still be "sneaking off" when they're [[GrowOldWithMe old and gray]], and she sadly says it's likely impossible, as she'll have to return to her own timeline--and even if she can't, she just doesn't see how she can stay with him, since he's Chrom's tactician and she can't stay with Chrom. Unlike the example above, though, the conversation then takes a turn for the [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming heartwarming]], as the Male Avatar promises her that he'll always stay by her side and find a way to make things work out--and she believes him.
* Chrom and Lucina's A Support conversation, which is the first (or second) time she [[spoiler:ever gets to have her father comfort her.]]

*** Which is [[{{jossed}} actually answered]] in The Future Past 2 if he is married to Tharja. When he speaks to Noire, she thinks he is a trick because he isn't afraid of her, to which he responds. "Why would I be afraid of my own daughter?" Makes sense, as romantic and familiar love are in ''very'' different levels, and believing that Lon'qu would be afraid of a girl he fathered brings up some... bad ideas about not understanding this.
*** Also answered in the case that he fathers Nah. The difference being that Nah lost her parents at a young age and only recognizes him through pictures. What puts this into tearjerker territory is him saying how surprised he is to feel happy around his daughter instead of feeling afraid. Yes, he doesn't seem to mind having a daughter, but that doesn't mean the worry that his issues would interfering with being a father didn't ever cross his mind.

* The whole idea of the Einherjar is pretty depressing when you think about it. They're spirits of past FE characters summoned through cards... that don't even seem to be aware that they aren't real. They fight battles against each other in the Outrealm without knowing ''why'', and believe they are actually fighting for a just cause when it's all really just an illusion. Frederick sums it up nicely if you have him talk to Celica.

** Somewhat subverted in that ''Rogues and Redeemers 3'', Elincia explicitly states that it felt like she has fought the Shepherds before (which she clearly has), possibly hinting that some of the Einherjar retain memories to some degree.
** Bonus points go to Lyn, who in her DLC recruitment conversation, suspects that the Avatar is the tactician from Blazing Sword. Picking the right dialog choices can convince her, and she's so happy to be reunited with them... Then she joins your army, and never speaks another word or shows any emotion or personality.

* Speaking of Hot Spring Scramble and [[spoiler:Emmeryn]], she can talk to both Chrom and Lissa on the same map. During these conversations, Lissa mentions how sad she and Chrom were after [[spoiler:Emmeryn's HeroicSacrifice]] and how she herself [[spoiler: had wished to be dead just to be with her sister]]. She also mentions that when [[spoiler:Emmeryn was found alive after all]], Chrom of all people [[spoiler:cried tears of happiness and prayed to Naga, thanking her]].

-->''"Oh, I'm so happy! I've always wanted a husband! Think of all the centuries--uh, [[WeAreAsMayflies years]] we'll have!"''

* Gregor and Tharja's A support, where Gregor [[spoiler: asks Tharja to help him contact the spirit of his dead brother. It turns out Gregor took the name of the brother he'd failed to protect from bandits, and the reason her curses didn't work on him was that the dead Gregor still had unfinished business. Gregor ''cries'' while begging his brother's forgiveness for being unable to save him, and afterwards Tharja is ''too tired'' to steal his soul like she'd said she would]]. Also counts as MoodWhiplash since their C and B supports were played for comedy, with her annoyed by his constant attempts at conversation.

* The [[spoiler:Sacrifice]] ending, while awesome [[spoiler: and the Avatar does get better, at that point everyone thought that the Avatar '''is''' KilledOffForReal]].
** That same ending is even more tearjerking if the Avatar is married to Chrom. [[spoiler:''Chrom is watching his very own wife literally die before his eyes.'' It's even worse if you take in to account that Chrom (and Lucina) must have been absolutely heartbroken (especially after the promises they made to stay together), and mourning for Grima-knows-how-long before finding the Avatar again in the final cutscene.]] And even if s/he isn't married to Chrom, it's still [[spoiler: the second time he's had to watch somebody important to him [[NotAfraidToDie knowingly and willingly]] go to their death - even if it ''is'' [[WhatIsOneMansLifeInComparison for the greater good]] - without being able to do anything to stop it.]]

*** Similarily to example above, [[spoiler:sacrificing yourself]] is basically forcing [[spoiler:Cordelia]] to watch ''once again'' as [[spoiler:her comrade gives his/her life to let her live safely]]. This goes double if you married her to Avatar - [[spoiler:you helped her overcome her SurvivorGuilt, and now you too abandon her]]...
*** In fact, seeing [[spoiler:you sacrifice yourself]] has to be painful for an alarming number of characters, doubly so if they're your spouse. Lissa? [[spoiler:See Chrom's secton]]. Panne? [[spoiler:Has dealt with losing her entire species. If you marry her, you vow to be her new family, and now you're leaving her, too.]] Gregor? [[spoiler:Felt so guilty over his brother's death that he discarded his own name.]] Nowi? [[spoiler:Has been alone for a millenium, and is now losing you well before she hoped for.]] Ditto for Tiki, who has the additional pain of [[spoiler:already having lost all of her old companions]]. Libra? [[spoiler:Abandoned by his parents and the SoleSurvivor of his group of fellow monks]]. Say'ri? [[spoiler:Still dealing with the loss of her brother and learning of his sacrifice.]] Henry? [[spoiler:Had his surrogate parent killed when she tried to visit him and is all sorts of unstable.]] Literally any of the child characters? [[spoiler:Have lived through a BadFuture where their parents all died. Whether they're your child or your spouse, you're putting them through the trauma of losing their loved one again.]] And how about those [[spoiler:Spot Pass characters]]? [[spoiler:You give Gangrel and Aversa hope that they can change. With Yen'fay, you give him something to live for besides acting as a living weapon atoning for the death of his sister.]]
*** In a HarsherInHindsight way, Lucina, not too long ago, [[spoiler: wanted to kill the Avatar in order to prevent Chrom's death and her bad future. She relents because she was convinced that everyone's bonds would win out in the end of it all. Come to this moment and the Avatar sacrifices themself in order to permanently kill Grima. So in the end, the Avatar still died to save Chrom, their friends and family, and the world. It's even worse if you accepted Lucina's judgement because in a way, the Avatar has already confirmed that they will lay their life for the people that they love, regardless if Lucina has a relationship with them or not. If the Avatar was her mother, then Lucina traveled back in time to save her father, but then sees her mother die before her. And the Avatar was her husband, then Lucina fell in love with a man who she pointed her sword at to save his best friend and her father, only to have him die for both of them later.]] Lucina just doesn't get a break no matter what timeline she's in.
*** Consider Cordelia, Lissa, and Olivia whose children from the future disappear to show up in Fire Emblem: Fates what seems like only recently after Awakening's ending. [[spoiler: If they're married to the Avatar it's possible, nay probable that their children left before he was found, leaving them, for a time, completely alone but for a daughter they know little about and that can't remember them.]]
*** And then that brings up that [[spoiler: the only parent Morgan can remember is gone and they're left alone and alienated with a family they know next to nothing about.]]

* In chapter 10, after Tharja joins [[spoiler: and Emmeryn dies]], have her kill someone and she'll say, "You deserved worse." Just a kill quote, but very fitting.

* [[spoiler: Emmeryn's]] ending is pretty melancholy. [[spoiler:She never regains her memories, and goes to live in Regna Ferox as a normal woman. Consider that she became Exalt at the age of nine, in control of a country full of people who hated her and threw things at her as she tried to make things right... it's nice that she finally gets a break, but it's still sad.]]

* The Infinite Regalia DLC map. Put the first generation characters on the front lines, and they'll make comments about how the Deadlords seem to have been great warriors that they regret having to fight. But put the children first, and their comments take on an even more depressing and horrifying implications that [[spoiler: the Deadlords are alternate versions of their parents, turned into Risen enemies. While Kjelle will comment she has little will to fight, and Gerome says that Minerva's reaction reminds him of when his parents died, you also get Lucina noticing the brand of Naga on one of the Deadlords, or Yarne sensing a taguel among them. Then there's Tiki's battle quote, which stops ''just'' short of outright saying it:]]
--> [[spoiler:Tiki: "I... know you. That grisly guise you wear is not enough to blind me. You died to protect something. Will you now destroy it? Then know I will stop you—to honor your last wish and defend the children."]]

** Kellam's ending is quite depressing. If married, the ending slide is wife's solo ending but with 'her husband's name is lost to history' tacked on the end. The worst combo is with Tharja, because her solo ending states that she went back to Plegia and obsessed over the Avatar for the rest of her life. So Kellam would play second-fiddle to the Avatar in his own marriage! His solo ending is worse though, because he leaves the Shepherds to travel, and his friends don't even notice he's gone for ''years''.
* In Tharja and Nowi's supports, Nowi asks Tharja if she can find her parents using dark magic. Tharja eventually replies that they are in an unidentified land, far, far away. [[spoiler: When in fact, Nowi's parents have been dead for centuries.]]
* In his solo ending, it's implied that Henry [[spoiler: kills himself]].

--> ''[[YouCantGoHomeAgain "Which way...is home...”]]''

* In the end credits, if you're playing in Classic Mode and managed to lose any units (that are [[MenAreTheExpendableGender male]] anyway), then the game will try to make you feel bad as instead of displaying their endings, their portrait will be greyed out and in red text will simply read "'''Died: *insert name of location here*'''". This can be a pretty hefty PlayerPunch if you've grown attached to that character and even worse if you're playing in Lunatic mode and couldn't do anything to save them or lost a lot of characters. All you'll see is a long list of greyed out portraits. If you ever needed a good motivation to [[SaveScumming save scum]] in Classic mode, this would be it.

* Lost Bloodlines 3 in particular is surprisingly tragic, as just as the two armies, previously warring, have begun to understand each other and team up, [[ShootTheDog you have to kill them both for their own good.]] In parts 1 and 2, you were trying to stop an ongoing war, so it made sense what you were doing. But this time, ''you'' are the only aggressors. It's a pure ShootTheDog situation. [[WhatTheHellPlayer And most of the opponents chastise you for causing more bloodshed, which is now entirely ''your'' fault.]] If you've played any of the earlier games and become attached to the legacy characters, it's even worse. Be sure to expect this scenario in Smash Brethren 3 and Rogues & Redeemers 3.

*** The full script for it can be found [[http://fireemblem.wikia.com/wiki/The_Future_Past_3/Script#At_Least_Lucina_Survives here]]. Beware of huge spoilers and massive heartbreak. One can only assume that the writers were very determined to make the player use up an entire box of Kleenex.

* The Avatar's S-Support with Cordelia. It's hard to read it in any other way other than Cordelia is just ''settling'' for him because she knows Chrom won't love her back. That is, like Cordelia is willingly entering a, from her end, loveless marriage. She tries to pass the love confession off as a joke ("...Ah, I get it! Trying to get me back? Ha ha. Good one, Avatar!"), and on being given a ring ("Oh, heavens. It's... It's a ring.") even desperately seems to be trying to get out of it ("Why, Avatar... (line break) The thing is...") before she just accepts.

** One of the subtler, but still incredibly poignant ones, comes in the form of the boss characters first two Future Past maps. Who are they? [[spoiler: The two versions of Morgan, your character's normally eccentric, dorky, and lovable child.]] And they have absolutely no qualms about attacking the kids, who might even be [[spoiler: their siblings or ''parents'' depending on who was married.]] Think about it - Consider how both of them are otherwise. They've been broken ''this'' much, enough for them to ruthlessly serve and slaughter under Grima.

*** To put it into perspective - [[spoiler: This kid]] is so broken and loyal that they're willing to cut down even those close to them. They do ''everything'' because they still see Grima as [[spoiler: the parent they loved so dearly]], and yet despite how hard they try to give the cold shoulder, they just ''can't'' bring themselves to hurt the reminder of the parent they loved. Seeing either of the [[spoiler: Morgans]] so utterly ruthless and different from their usual selves is tragic in itself, but seeing that remnant of them still in there is just heartbreaking.

** After slaying [[spoiler:Grima]] in ''The Future Past 3'', [[spoiler:the Avatar's last words are to apologize to Morgan for putting them through so much pain and finally expressing gratitude that s/he is [[DyingAsYourself finally free from Grima]].]]

*** Consider Cordelia, Lissa, and Olivia whose children from the future disappear to show up in Fire Emblem: Fates what seems like only recently after Awakening's ending. [[Spoiler: If they're married to the Avatar it's possible, nay probable that their children left before he was found, leaving them, for a time, completely alone but for a daughter they know little about and that can't remember them.]]

* In Death's Embrace, Brady explains that in his timeline, he often ended up having to kill the people he was trying to heal when they turned into Risen, and tells the others that they just have to remember that, no matter how hard it is to have to kill them, they're already beyond saving. While the notion is horrible in and of itself, it's the fact that Brady puts it so bluntly, without so much as a stutter. Given his status as a huge crybaby, it implies that it happened so often that he's become completely jaded to the act.

* A rather small one, but in Chrom and Vaike's B Support Conversation, Chrom tells Vaike that the two of them should go easy on each other when they're fighting. This is because Lissa was upset after the last fight, so much so that she was crying and saying that they took the sparring way too seriously.

** According to various conversations, he's sacked a few villages, stolen to feed himself, help frame a noble for petty power reasons (he was blackmailed into it with a little girl's life, but still), and was willing to let strangers into the Exalt's palace for the right price. He pretty cearly didn't mean much of anything to anyone until he joined the Shepherds.