As a Moments subpage, all spoilers are unmarked as per policy. You Have Been Warned.
- Honestly most of the Character Development in this game is a bunch of strangers becoming a found family.
- Sazh and Dajh. During the fireworks festival that the whole party was at, Dajh is wishing on the fireworks for Sazh to be happy since he doesn't smile anymore. This immediately makes Sazh hug Dajh and tells him that his wish came true with a smile and as he stands with Dajh on his shoulders and when asked what he's wishing for, Sazh says that's his little secret.
- Hope's father. "You're my son! This is your home!"
- Shortly before that, the normally icy Lightning seeing Hope's distress and sweeping him up in a hug, then helping Fang scoop up Snow and saying affectionately "He's too stubborn to die,", making it clear that she cares.
- What makes it better is if you remember that she said the same thing about him before, but more ruefully.
- Also, Lightning promises Hope that she'll protect him, and he says "Me too. I mean... I'll protect you too."
- In fact, Bartholomew's view of the party in general. While it's understandable he wouldn't see his son as a supposed "monster", he didn't know the other three at all, and yet he treats them exactly as he would other humans. Including Snow, the one indirectly responsible for Nora's death, who he'd have good reason to be angry at. Yet never once does he show suspicion or hostility toward them, even when they're laying out tentative plans that would radically change the lives of those on Cocoon, and calmly points out their flaws. In a society where anything Pulse-related invokes rampant fear, hatred, and paranoia, he's one of the rare few who's open-minded and reasonable about the whole matter.
- He shows a great deal of So Proud of You, sternly correcting Hope's anxiety whenever it crops up. "You're not running! This is not running away. You've made a choice. You'll survive, and do what needs to be done."
- Shortly before that, the normally icy Lightning seeing Hope's distress and sweeping him up in a hug, then helping Fang scoop up Snow and saying affectionately "He's too stubborn to die,", making it clear that she cares.
- Lightning restoring Snow's faith that Serah can, and will, be saved.
- Speaking of Snow and Lightning, the conversation they have about what they'll do when Serah's no longer crystal. Seeing Lightning soften up is pretty poignant. Especially when, as the scene fades out, you see her rest her head on Snow's back.
- From that same scene, Snow telling Lightning exactly what she needed to hear. A possible interpretation of her bitterness towards Snow is that she feels that she is losing Serah to him. He only needs one line to reassure her that she is not. It's at that moment that a silently crying Lightning looks up, takes a step towards Snow and rests her head on his back. She believes him.
Snow: Don't worry. We'll finish this... and go see her together. - The exact moment when Lightning realized that she was being an Aloof Big Sister when she realized that Snow was the only one who stood by Serah when she became an l'Cie.
- The Snow and Hope conflict. Snow's absolute refusal to leave Hope and his determination to protect him even after Hope tries to kill him to make up for the past.
Hope: You wanna die? Well, too bad. You can't!BATTLE TEAM CHANGED
←IN← Hope: RavagerHope: I won't let you! - This quote:Snow: Serah... my one, my only... will you marry me?
- His reaction after Serah answers him is equal parts Funny and Heartwarming:"She said yes!"
- His reaction after Serah answers him is equal parts Funny and Heartwarming:
- After Vanille's Eidolon battle, where Fang tears into her about how she is the one person Vanille shouldn't have lied to, given all they've been through together. She rears back to punch Vanille and ends up just bopping her lightly before reminding her that they are family.
- In the scene in chapter 11 where Hope regains consciousness after collapsing he tries to urge them on without him, afraid he just hold them back. When he staggers and almost falls over, Snow grabs him into a hug. When Hope breaks down and admits he's afraid, Lightning tries to comfort him telling him that he doesn't to face this alone, only for Hope to confess that what he's most afraid of is that the others will be hurt because of him. And that's when Alexander decides to show up...Snow: [gently] What did I tell you? Leave the fighting to me.
- Something else heartwarming here is how earlier when Snow said to leave the fighting to him it comes off as a boast. In this scene Snow's tone makes his words into a Declaration of Protection.
- The ending, period.
- Hope and Vanille's scene on Gran Pulse. Him joking about having feelings for Vanille, and her cute reaction... so adorable!
- The scene where Snow decides help Serah fulfill her focus instead of abandoning her is all kinds of sweet. He's literally saying he'll take on the entire world just for her.
- In Final Fantasy XIII Episode Zero, despite being as resentful as ever that Serah is dating Snow, while trying to figure out what she sees in him, Lightning comes to realize that she's is the one who's been alienating her sister and feels genuinely guilty for neglecting her ever since she got Promoted to Parent. She then proceeds to try to make amends, by actually planning to take vacation time off to do nothing but make up for lost time and talk to her sister, promises herself to make more time for her in the future, and comes as close as she ever has to be giddy about the whole plan. Of course, the game reveals that this goes disastrously awry, but the whole episode really brings out the much needed "heart of gold" in her personality.
- In the end, Snow steals a moment away from Serah and Lightning, and talks about planning the wedding. He tells Lightning, "I will make her happy." Lightning's response is a simple "I know." She isn't so icy after all.
- Even the gameplay interface gets one. When Bahamut shows up because Fang would rather ruin the home her friends live in than watch them go Cie'th because they defied their Focus, Lightning proceeds to turn Fang to their side with but a few words.Lightning: I'm fighting this Focus to the end. We all are. So please. (offers hand) Fight with us.BATTLE TEAM CHANGED
←IN← Fang: Command
←IN← Lightning: Ravager
←IN← Vanille: Ravager(Fang takes Lightning's hand, and the team's females take fighting stances in front of the King of Dragons in preparation for a serious ass-kicking) - Just before Snow makes his awesome entry with Fang. Lighting and Hope are completely surrounded, and Lightning tells Hope to run while she holds them off. "You survive."
- Despite his justifiable anger at Vanille, who was more than willing to take the blame and get killed in retribution, Sazh can't find it in himself to hate her, much less shoot her."Lot of things can be excused. (lowers gun) Shooting kids ain't one of them."
- Which is followed by Vanille's:"Kindness like his, you don't forget."
- Which is followed by Vanille's:
- Snow's devotion to Serah throughout the whole game.
- After a tear-inducing scene in Nautilus, wherein Sazh confronts Vanille about her lies, Brynhildr appears and readies her scythe to strike Sazh — who is willing to die at this point — down. Vanille quickly places herself between them and stares the summon down, turns her head to Sazh, and says "It's not over."
- Sazh moving to protect Vanille when Brynhildr gets ready to attack her is also very heartwarming, given what he has just learnt about her.
- One that's very easy to miss: When exploring the world with a party, if all three members stop moving and are standing close to each other, pan the camera around to the leader. He/she will give their teammates a reassuring smile.
- It's a little thing, but the way that Lightning says "Hope?!" in battle and his HP goes critical.
- Another minor one: Repairing Vanille's pet robot, Bhakti. She sounds so relieved to see her little buddy functioning again. Given all that Vanille has gone through, it's especially sweet.
