Heartwarming / Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers

"When I was a boy, many long years ago, I yearned to stand tall as the heroes of eld. But like a fool seeking to pluck the stars from the heavens, my every attempt to reprise their deeds fell short... And then, one day, an all but forgotten dream from my youth stood before me in the flesh."

• Shadowbringers as a whole is best described as True Companions refusing to let sleeping dogs lie. Urianger gets brought over to the First? He quickly changes all of his priorities upon learning that his comrades, and especially the Warrior of Light, will be killed. Alisaie beats up the Crystal Exarch not out of concern for her nudity at the time, but because she collapsed in the middle of a battle by your side due to his summons with no way of knowing your status. Saving the First is a major priority for the Scions, to be sure, but nearly all of their goals wrap around to having to do it to save your life, and the Trust system is the shining example of this. Compared to always having to take the backseat for the Primals, they will fight tooth and nail for eachother and especially you.
• As you break the Light's grip on the regions of the First and restore night, people look up in awe as they see beyond the bright haze that has occupied the sky for over a hundred years by the time you arrive on the First. Many look fit to burst into tears as they see the stars for the first time.
  Moren: "The sunless sea... The Warrior of Darkness has come!"
• It's a soft, small moment but when you first reunite with Alphinaud in Kholusia towards the beginning of Shadowbringers, he's incredibly happy to see you. He sounds close to tears when he first greets you (it's been over a year since he last saw you). The game then implies you spend a bit of time catching up before you two go on your way together.
• When Minfilia runs off in Twine, Urianger follows her out of concern. She confides in him that she believes that the world and the Scions would be better off if she died and the original Minfilia returned. Urianger pats her on the head and reassures her that that's not true at all and that she's loved by Thancred and others. And unbeknownst to Minfilia, Thancred and the Warrior of Light/Darkness are watching her as well out of concern.
• Minfilia's exchange with her younger counterpart. Despite everything she's been through, despite her loss of mortality and homeworld, despite the Heroic Sacrifice she made to ensure just a small part of the First would survive the Flood of Light and comparing herself to the Ascians...she remains the same compassionate, selfless, caring woman we always knew her as. She congratulates the younger girl for growing stronger and choosing her own path, admits fault and apologizes for the harsh treatment she's received all her life because she is a reincarnation of the original, and in general comforts the younger Minfilia at what is probably the most frightening moment of her entire life. Original!Minfilia grants what's left of her power to the Minfilia of Norvrandt, and as she fades away for the last time, gives her another gift: her eyes and hair change color, removing the things marking her as Minfilia's reincarnation and granting her a chance at a life of her own.
  • Thancred's reaction to this. For context, he has been mostly stern and cold to this Minfilia, unable to process his grief at the loss of the original Minfilia, and admitted (out of earshot of her) he was making the same mistakes as he did the first time around, leaving things unsaid and burying himself in his work to ignore the pain. When she arrives at the spot where the Scions have gathered at present, she's clearly nervous and frightened, worried he would be angry. He pats her on the head, says she's done well, and that he's proud of her. She bursts into happy tears. When the Scions declare she needs a new name, they give the task to Thancred, as he's the closest thing to a father she has, which adds up to the scene where he explicitly refers to the source Minfilia as his sister, and altered Minfilia as his daughter (at least in the original version). He picks "Ryne", meaning "Blessing" in the language of the pixies. From Encyclopaedia Eorzea Vol. 3, it further reveals that she's inherited Thancred's surname too, effectively making her Happily Adopted by him.
• After the Scions have liberated Eulmore from Lord Vauthry, many of the free Eulmoran citizens are horrified and ashamed to realize just what they've done, and that not all their sins were because of Vauthry's mind-controlling magics. After Alphinaud says his piece to them and turns to discuss with you the matter of going after Vauthry, many of them immediately step forward and offer what help they have to the Scions and the people of the surrounding regions. As one resolute free citizen put it, "Your risked your lives to bring us to our senses, a-and I for one hope to repay that debt. Begin anew, as you said."
  • Alphinaud's reaction to the Eulmorans offering their help. He clearly wasn't expecting change to come this soon, but it clearly moved him. Alisaie then voices what the player is thinking in that moment:
    "Well done, Brother."
  • Related, how the peoples of Norvrandt avert Apathetic Citizens; reaching the final Lightwarden would require pretty much every nation the player character has met helping them... so what do they do? Nearly every person you've met rallies behind them to aid in the titanic undertaking, even the ones you interacted with not ten minutes earlier. The Warriors of Darkness need help? The Warriors of Darkness are getting help.
• Though the Free Citizens of Eulmore did treat their lessers poorly, not all of the bonded want to leave their side, for some among the Free did still believe they were helping their lessers in truth.
  • One quest has you save a young man from falling after trying to retrieve his mistress' handkerchief; you find him because even though she did want it back, she missed his presence more, and she is legitimately grateful for his safe return. He returns this loyalty after the freeing of the city by staying by her side when the Warrior of Darkness administers dream powder to keep the more troubled citizens asleep until Ryne could purge their corruption.
  • Another figure, a soldier, wants to help restore some happiness with some actual meals, not just meol.
  • The man in charge of the local dance hall/strip joint, the Queen Bee, wants to find one of his star dancers who had gone missing, and when hearing that she wouldn't return until she found her boyfriend who had fallen into the water and vanished, resolved to leave his comfortable hall and see her in the refuse below the city to convince her that she didn't have to wait alone, and that she could ask for help (namely from the PC) to find him.
• To convince Chai-Nuzz to build the Talos, you have to help get him over his fears. His wife points that the best way to do so is to praise him indirectly - not to give him overt praise, but to hint at his capability and support. The fact that, despite spending so much time under Vauthry's spell, they both still love each other AND know how to reach one another's best sides, is quite touching.
• To convince the people of Amity to aid in the construction of the Talos, the Chais must confront the young artist they kicked out to die. The meeting is tense initially, but the sincerity in their apology, combined with the young man's desire to see a better future, allows them to find forgiveness and move on. Most notably, said young artist points out that while he initially doesn't know if he can forgive them, he wanted to be like them too, so the blame cannot be put on their shoulders alone.
  • In Amity, after bringing down Vauthry, you can find a kid named Ibenart, whom you can challenge to a game of Triple Triad. Nice on its own, but Ibenart reveals that he got his deck from a "big, happy lady". The only person who fits that description is Dulia-Chai. All things considered, that was very nice of her to do while she was helping Chai-Nuzz.
  Ibenart: Look! I got amazing cards from a big, happy lady. Oh, do you have some, too!? We should play!
• After Dhon Mheg, the Warrior of Darkness is left staring out over the ruins of Voeburt. While the scene is sad because the Warrior of Darkness imagines a worst case scenario of the city falling to calamity, the first thing they think of is Ishgard and the Fortemps, reinforcing the belief at the end of Stormblood that Ishgard is the closest thing the Warrior of Light has to their home, and the entire Fortemps family is more or less their family now. All this does is reconfirm the Warrior's desire to unmake the 8th calamity and continue in their quest.
• The Night's Blessed in Slitherbough carry a small gemstone with them, in the belief that should they be transformed into a Sin Eater, the gem will keep their soul safe until it can be recovered and sent to the "sunless sea of Heaven". The player character returned one of them in the Rak'tika Greatwood... and when the giant Talos needs gems to act as magical focii, the Night's Blessed volunteer the heartstones without hesitating. Partially because the player character needs the Talos, partially out of simple gratitude, but also because night has returned to Rak'tika, and they believe it's proof the Warrior of Darkness has come and guided the souls of the lost to Heaven.
• After you defeat Lord Vauthry, you learn the truth about the Crystal Exarch's origins: After the Warrior of Light died in the Eighth Umbral Calamity, a group of scholars and heroes led by Cid himself spent centuries developing a means of traveling through space & time, unlocked the Crystal Tower, and enlisted G'raha Tia's help in sending the Crystal Tower back in time to the First to give the Warrior of Light a chance to prevent the calamity and their own death.
  • G'raha Tia was prepared to sacrifice himself to save the Warrior of Light. When the time comes, he does it without a second thought.
  • As a bonus, the player can call out to G'raha by name. It's all he can do to not burst into tears at hearing his personal hero call out to him!
  • The origins of Crystarium: G'raha Tia overshoots the mark a bit and winds up several decades before he can summon the Warrior of Light. What does he do until the time is right? He creates the largest remaining city in the world as a bastion for the survivors, giving thousands of people a fighting chance.
  • Notably, G'raha Tia does not say that the men and women who worked on this project didn't just do it to help avert the Calamity, he says that they did it for the Warrior of Light. As much as the Source treats their hero poorly, they stopped at nothing to change the course of history for the sake of one person.
  G'raha: The Warrior of Light's tale is one of unyielding bravery. To tell it was to feel courage; to hear it was to feel hope. It was a breath of inspiration in an age of suffocating shadow.
• During flashbacks to the 8th Umbral calamity, we are shown an Ishgard devestated by the calamity but it is revealed that the reoccuring child rescued by Vidofnir back in Heavensward, was the one who saved the book written by Count Edmont de Fortemps about the WoL's heroics. Thanks to her, generations of survivors are inspired by the Warrior of light long after their demise and ends up being a key factor pushing them to rewrite history itself.
• During Lamitt's story, you learn that she was on a journey to heal her people infected with a disease called the Stoneblight, to which she journeyed with Ardbert and a few others. She was able to gain the knowledge of Ronka, gain her crystal of light and return to cure the others. However she is very quickly exiled for bringing the outsiders back and breaking dwarven traditions. Ardbert has come to care for her so much (after a rocky start, including Ardbert confusing her for a male thanks to the bearded helmet) that he looks like he is about to swing at them, telling them he won't be quiet after all she put herself through to heal her people, including her sister. Lamitt eventually throws down her helmet and leaves, as do the healed dwarves who just couldn't remain behelmeted in Blighttunnels. The Heartwarming moment comes when she reflects on what she will do, and Ardbert says that he is happy to have her with him, helmet or not. The look on her face adds a mountain of weight to the few words of thanks, if you take into account that Lamitt falls in love with Ardbert one can easily assume this was the start of it. Later on, as Lamitt's shade is giving her thoughts in the final quest conclusion, her final thoughts are that she was only able to bear the pain of being cast out because she had Ardbert with her, and wishes he knew just how important he was to her.
  • To follow up from this on the Level 80 Scholar quest, you can relay the story of Lamitt to Alka Zolka and the tonberries, Setoto gets the idea that she should attempt to undergo the cure, using the methods from the story told as a foundation. Alka is highly opposed to the idea from the dangers but she insists on going on with it, and even reveals tkat she has an infatuation with Alka. With your (And Eos') help, you manage to restore Setoto to her normal form, revealing she is infact a very adorable Lalafell, the look on her face oozes gratitude for what you have done, while considering when she should reveal her feelings for Alka to him.
• The Level 80 Dark Knight Quest "Our Closure" is chock full of this. It all starts with your character receiving an anonymous letter from Sidurgu. Its contents detail how thankful they are for what you did for them, but it doesn't give too much detail on what for exactly. Deciding to find out who sent the letter, you go on a journey which takes you all across Eorzea to nearly all of the different places that you've had a significant impact on from Ishgard to Gyr Abania. With each destination you go to, you encounter someone who is grateful for all of the help you have provided them and their people until you finally meet the person who sent the letter. The man's name is Godeheard, who you may recognize as the jackass who tried to make you pay for the bloodstained goods you rescued from the Qiqirn bandits all the way back in Heavensward. After his life went down the tube due to poor business decisions, and people learning of just how he managed to piss off the Warrior of Light, he was fortunate enough to find one small package of seeds that you brought back that were still able to be cultivated. This lead him to have an epiphany over just how much of an ass he was, and he resolved to live a more meager and honest life growing those flowers. After he recounts his tale to you, he offers a full and sincere apology for all of the crap that he gave you, and even gives you one of the flowers that he had grown. It all serves as a reminder that even though it may not seem like it at times, your efforts are more appreciated than you could ever possibly realize.
  • You then take the flower, which symbolizes partings, and return to Coerthas. On the cliffs near Whitebrim, you offer the flower to the winds. Your darkside (using your name and shape again, instead of Fray's) appears for what may well be a final conversation, where they talk about how much you've done together, and how much this all has meant to them, before becoming one with you once more. The last journal entry, from their perspective, is all about how much they hope that they did well by you in your time together, and changed you for the better, as you did for them.
    "I love you more than you'll ever know. Be well."
  • "We are the stories we tell ourselves. The brave hero, the tortured soul, the altruist, the pragmatist. They will tell you who they see, but you and you alone know who you are. For I speak only for myself. If you find comfort in my words, they are yours for the taking, but that is your choice. Now and ever after, as it has always been."
• The Level 80 Samurai quest, "The Legend of Musosai", sees you and Makoto visit Musosai's resting place at the Silver Bazaar to pay your respects. When you get there, you notice a few familiar faces—people whom you and Musosai had helped out previously. You also encounter the false samurai, who was inspired by Musosai and his story, and wished to train as a proper samurai under him. Happy to see that Musosai had inspired this former bodyguard to turn his life around, Makoto offers the false samurai to train with the Sekiseigumi in Kugane.
  • The quest also explains why the normally-virtually-empty Silver Bazaar has visitors there to pay their respects to Musosai—because at The Quicksand bar, Momozigo is regularly telling "The Legend of Musosai" to the patrons there, resulting in some folks from previous Samurai quests to head their to pay their respects to someone who fought to help them when they needed it.
• It is in a bittersweet kind of heartwarming when the Scions get to meet the ancient Ascians of Amaurot. Unlike the callousness that the Ascians of the present have treated people from the Source, these Ascians regard the Scions warmly and treat their ignorance as them simply being children. And further on in the city the Ascians keep this pleasant attitude, even towards each other. The closest thing to conflict in this society being constructive criticism. It helps show that even for as reprehensible as their current actions might be, the Ascians were once too a people just wanting to live their lives in peace and to the fullest.
• In a brief conversation with Ryne, the Warrior has a dialogue option to raise her spirits by repeating Haurchefant's Last Words "A smile better suits a hero." to her. Even after all this time, the Warrior still hasn't forgotten their friendship with Haurcehfant, and works to pass on his wisdom to other heroes.
• The cutscene just before the fight with Hades has the player character on hands and knees as the Primordial Light overtakes them. We're treated to a PoV shot of them falling onto their face as they cough up liquid Light as everything fades to white. Almost everything. As he promised, Ardbert has been with you every step of the way, and he asks the Warrior of Darkness one important question before he chooses to fuse with them.
  Ardbert: "If you could take one more step, could you do it? Could you save our worlds?"
  • To which the player has two options, both of which make Ardbert smile with a small laugh.
    "You know I could!"
    "What, all by myself?"
• The final battle of Shadowbringers: the Warrior of Darkness against Hades. The Warrior has been restored by Ardbert's sacrifice, but even then is outmatched. Cue the Exarch summoning seven other Warriors from seven other worlds - other players' characters stepping onto your screen, come to aid you when you need it most. And on seven other screens, you're stepping out onto theirs.
• After running Emet-Selch through with the collective Light you've gathered throughout Shadowbringers, Emet calmly accepts his fate, and asks the Warrior to remember him, the Ascians, and the kingdom of Amaurot. When you agree, he smiles as he fades away. It's even more both Heartwarming and Tear Jerker than it seems at first, as it is Emet smiling at his closest friend, accepting the legacy of their people, despite not remembering it (as of now). He's finally accepting who the Warrior of Light is, and can only smile at them with all bitterness gone.
• The shape of the Blade of Light the Warrior of Light creates to kill Emet-Selch. After everything that happened, there was only one shape it could have taken: Bravura, Ardbert's axe. A hero to the end, even if no one knew.
  • There's a way to fix that: if you talk to Librarian Moren at the Cabinet of Curiosity after defeating Emet-Selch, there's a dialogue option to tell him about the Warriors of Light. The Warrior of Darkness proceeds to tell him the truth about how they sacrificed themselves to stop the Flood of Light and save the First. Overwhelmed, Moren vows to write down and spread word of their tale to restore their reputation as heroes.
  • The level 80 quest for Bards goes one better. The Warrior of Light and their fellow bards decide to write a new song to inspire future bards, and the veteran bards ask the Warrior if they have any adventures worth singing about. One of the choices is the story of Renda-Rae, the Ranger of Light. Not only can the Warrior of Light share her story with the historians of the First, they can immortalize her in song on an entirely different world! Oh huntress brave...
• After the final battle is over, G'raha Tia appears and congratulates you for saving the First. If you choose to reply with "'tis good to see you awake, G'raha Tia", he starts crying Tears of Joy, while the Warrior of Light looks at him affectionately. He also gets a similar reaction in the post credits if you show him the wind-up minion of himself. The developers had this scene planned from the start and before Shadowbringers launched, they heavily encouraged players to complete the Crystal Tower storyline before playing the expansion without saying why. They wanted people to have a deep bond with G'raha Tia.
  • They eventually made the Crystal Tower raids an unskippable part of the Main Story Quest, meaning that everyone now gets the chance to meet G'raha Tia before Shadowbringers.
• The song "Tomorrow and Tomorrow" that plays after the battle against Hades is both this and a tearjerker. The lyrics and situation are vague enough that on one hand the singer could be one of the people from the Future, sending their hopes and prayers into the past with G'raha Tia or one of the Ascians, hoping that their sacrifices were not in vain and that those who live now shall not forget them.
  From those who've fallen to those who will rise
  A prayer to keep us ever by your side
  An undying promise that we just might
  Carry on in a song

  Pray don't forget us, your bygone kin
  With one world's end as a new begin
  And should our souls scatter unto the wind
  Still we shall live on
• The Red Mage level 80 quest Succession of Steel starts simply enough, with X'rhun Tia seeking the Warrior of Light's help in hunting down a group of graverobbers that looted the Tomb of the Errant Sword, stealing the blades of past Red Mages in the process. Arya comes along, insisting that she's made progress in mastering her magical abilities since losing the the enhancements her bloodline gave her. At the end of the quest, X'rhun returns all the blades but one, which a friend of his had had personally crafted at great expense to help compensate for his weaker than average aetheric abilities. When X'hrun and his companions had taunted him over the great cost of the blade, he replied with “Even should I fail to do this steel justice, it will remain long after I have perished. A kindred soul shall take up the sword, and then you will see my coin was wisely spent.” Having seen Arya's progress in her studies, X'rhun is convinced she is that kindred soul, taking her as his full apprentice again and gifting her the blade.
• After the Warrior of Light and the Scions defeat Hades and return to the Crystarium, there's a brief scene of Arderbert's spirit reuniting with the spirits of his fellow Warriors of Darkness. What's also significant is the blood that's always been staining Ardbert's axe is gone, signifying him finally coming to terms with his regrets.
• A twisted example, but regardless of one's opinion of Zenos, the fact that he fought his way back to the palace, regained his body, killed his own father, and stopped production of Black Rose was in part because he wanted to fight us fairly, could be heartwarming in a demented sort of way, as he really does consider us his friend and enemy.
• Tales from the Shadows chapter 3 is presented as data compiled by Omega as it observed Garlond Ironworks in the decades following the Eight Umbral Calamity. While most of the document is written in Omega's usual cold logical style, the logs still showcase several people the Warrior of Light had helped assisting the Ironworks, either with their project or saving them from certain doom: Gyoshin the Namazu, the daughter of Sky Pirate Radlia, and two large creatures, one implied to be Soroban and/or Seiryu, and the other Hraesvelgr. The final entry ends with Omega finally displaying some emotion, understanding what Cid had told it all the way back in the Interdimensional Rift.
  And after the night comes the morning, as the sun rises to greet the new day. While it may already be too late to mend this dying world, there are those who would strive to create a place where the sun will shine again, not for their own sake, but for those in a past that may yet be saved.
  I think this must be what mortals call "hope."
  It is...beautiful.
  • Omega notes it isn't the chance to stop the Calamity that everyone rallies around: it's the chance to save the Warrior of Light.
• During the 5.1 Story line, you convince Beq Lugg, a disgraced soul crafter, to help in returning your allies to the source. During your experiments, you not only help Halric with his soul, but also realized that if perfected, you could counteract Primal tempering, curing the kobold child Ga Bu of his trauma.
  • Not only that, if this could actually counteract tempering, then the Tempered might be able to be saved. We wouldn't have to kill them anymore. We can actually save them.
• In the Pixie beastmen quests, you're tasking with vanquishing nightmares of various children dealing with hardships in their lives. Said nightmares are in the form of monsters. Ezel II sucks up the bad dreams, regurgitates them, and Tyr Beq gives the nightmare a physical form for you to defeat. When you slay the nightmare, the children wake up and recall their dream of you beating their nightmares and feel a lot better now that they can take on their problems head on.
  • This eventually applies to An Lad, who feels utterly worthless and wishes they were dead since no one wants to be their friend. Their nightmare covers the dream world in complete darkness, but you, Ezel II, and Tyr Beq banish the nightmares in each area before confronting the final one that takes the form of a huge Ahriman named Destrudo. The monster feeds of An Lad's despair and repeats their doubts and fears back to them in a cruel and twisted way. The whole fight is basically The Power of Friendship as you and your companions shield An Lad from Destrudo's attacks and beat the nightmare back into oblivion. Even though An Lad is very likely a reincarnated Titania (the same one fought in the MSQ), everyone assures them that they are a good pixie and they do have friends that care about them. The smile on their face is priceless.
  • After reaching Bloodsworn with the Dreamspinners, you check on An Lad, who reveals that they're doing well, as if a void has been filled. Even after long after their dreams of Titania ended, they'll honor the king's will by watching of Lyhe Mheg. Tyr Beq is also grateful for you liberating their friend from nightmares, and will always welcome you to the Garden of Dreams. And they mean it; they'll come and greet you every time you visit Lyhe Mheg!
• In the Eden raid wing when you fight Eden Shiva, Ryne starts to lose control of Shiva's powers and crystallizes under the pressure, Gaia (Who has been gradually warming up to the party) dispenses all reservations and forcefully enters the fray of battle with a hammer she has summoned, desperately hammering at the crystal encasing Ryne before begging the player party to save Ryne, complete with filling your limit bar. As you get closer to the enrage, her pleas get more and more gut-wrenching. From emotionally distant to truly caring, she has gone a long way in a short time with her counterpart, all thanks to Ryne's earlier persistence with her.
• It's a small thing, but the victory cutscenes for the Eden raids has the Warrior of light happily celebrating victory at the end of the fights for the first time since before Shadowbringers began. It's nice to see them genuinely enjoying themselves fighting for something unambiguously good with no tragic undertones.
• The 2020 Little Ladies' Day has the player character essentially acting as the benefactor for sick children; first by bringing the spirit of the day into the hospital where they're cooped up, and then by introducing them to various heroes and role models they look up to. The people the WoL bring to visit range from the leader of the Gladiator's Guild, the aesthetician, and the top chef of Limsa Lominsa, all the way up to a dragon and Sultana Nanamo herself. The Sultana even makes it a point to her seneschal that no, for today, politics be damned, she is going to stay and raise the children's spirits.
• At the final fight inside Cid's memories during the Save the Queen: Blades of Gunnhildr story, Cid is completely overwhelmed by Varis, who represents Cid's ultimate mental lock on the truth he's been hiding from (his father shooting him while under Bahamaut's thrall). Mikoto suggests that you use your Echo to alter Cid's altered memories in order to fight back. You're given the choice of "Your strongest allies" or "Your closest friends". No matter what choice you pick, you summon all of your Scion friends and Ryne shows up as well. Seeing the Warrior of Light thinking of the Scions as their close friends and strongest allies shows how much they have bonded with them.
• Despite them not having spent much time together before or after the arrival of the player, it is very obvious that Alisaie has grown very fond of the Exarch, especially after 5.0. In 5.1, Alisaie shows clear annoyance on the Exarch's attempts to help the player while disregarding his own health. During 5.1 and 5.2, it furthermore gets established that Alisaie and the Exarch share the same kind of excited affection for the player, leading to them clashing as they fight for your attention sometimes to the amusement of the Scions such as before entering the Great Cosmos, yet she stops teasing him the moment he gets flustered over it. She is also the only one that directly to his face demands that he should rest and not risk his health for their sakes (which even Urianger, Beq Lugg and Lyna only do through you or gentle suggestions). Cue 5.3 where the Exarch is clearly putting his life at risk to return everyone home as his own body crystalizes, with nothing pushing him forward than the hope he might also return to the Source at the end, only for Alisaie to get genuinely angry at him and leave, followed by confiding in you that she doesn't want him to hurt himself.
• In 5.3 the partings the Scions have with their friends is full of this, but a few stand out. Dulia-Chai and Alphinaud are clearly very fond of each other and their reassuring words to each other when the player finishes with them show how much they have left an impression on each other. Ryne also gives the group a heartfelt thank you not just on behalf of the people of the first, but from herself for helping shape the young woman she is in front of them. Thancred likewise bequeaths upon her a tear induring headpat plus his Gunblade that he had used throughout his journey in the first, telling Ryne he can do what she likes with it... Ryne says she will treasure it (Easily missed as the light can make it a little difficult to see her hugging it to her chest if you aren't paying attention).
  • A little earlier, you're meeting up with each of the Scions as they say goodbye to their dearest friends on Norvrandt... except Y'Shtola, who's confused that she can't find Runar anywhere. Cue the normally calm and collected Ronso running up to her, shouting "Master Matoya"'s name to the utter shock of the other Night's Blessed. He then extends a single plain flower to her while on one knee, begging her to stay because he couldn't bear her leaving. One the one hand, she shoots him down with a sorrowful expression (because she does have to leave, her life quite literally depnds on it)... but on the other, she adds that since the Warrior of Darkness can safely travel to other worlds, she ought to be able to find a way, complete with a little wink. For those who remember her scathing takedown of the "Little Sun" and her offhand comment about how she's no stranger to awkward proposals (and this one was pretty awkward too) the fact that she essentially accepts Runar's is just adorable.
• During your goodbyes on the First, you take Ardbert's crystal (aquired from Elidibus) and are suggested to take it to Seto to look after it. Upon seeing it, he fondly wishes his friend peace while declaring he shall keep the crystal safe. The Warrior of Light, rather out of the blue, beckons Seto to perceive their soul with his unique vision, and somehow manages to channel Ardbert to have one last moment with his old friend, moving the old Amaro so dearly and letting you see just how close these two truly were. Having this closure over Ardbert finally inspires Seto to cease remaining in his nest and instead spread his wings to fly again, feeling that as Ardbert's journey isn't over, thanks to you, he shouldn't rest either.
• Before the Scions make to the Crystal Tower to return home they are given a sendoff of the entire Crystarium. Before leaving, Lyna wants the Warrior of Darkness to give the Crystal Exarch a message when they awaken him back on the Source;
  Lyna: "Tell him he needn't worry about us. That he need no longer hide who he truly is. That he should live his own life to the fullest. And that if he should ever find himself reminicing on the past with a asmile, we shall be smiling with him.
• During 5.3, it's revealed the full extent of the effort that Krile is going to to help maintain the bodies of the Scions while they are on the source. When Tataru is prompted to take you to them, she does so with rather heightened nervousness, the infirmary is completely devoid of most light and Krile is seen looking exhausted trying to maintain the aether of Thancred (among the others previously), regreting you had to see her like this. The two Lalafellian girls reveal that Krile has been working endlessly to keep the bodies as stable as possible while you work. Goes to show just how far the snarky girl is willing to push herself to do her part for the people she cares about.
• At the end of Crystal Exarch's story in the first, he reveals that all this time his greatest wish was to be able to journey alongside the Warrior of Light, to experience the wonders that come along with it. At the very end of 5.3's story once everyone has had time to rest up....G'raha Tia formally introduces himself on the source, his younger body and soul merged with the memories of his Crystal Exarch self, as the newest member of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. As a Call-Back to , you can show him the Wind-up Mystel to have him remember his time as the Exarch, still wishing the best for the people of the Crystarium.
• 5.3 introduces the Convocation's soul stones, containing memories of their original lives as seen through the eyes of the Paragons. Each member was given a stone, except for the Fourteenth who had defected at that point already. However, it's implied by Hythlodaeus, and later straight-up confirmed, that Emet-Selch secretly made one for them, feeling that even in those hard times and after the sundering, they would be able to reunite the stars/the Convocation together once more, comparing them to a Shepherd of stars (the stars representing each members of the Convocation), which is also the title given at the end of the 5.3 MSQ. To top it off, Emet-Selch's voice recording stored in the stone calls the Fourteenth, who was revealed to be the Warrior of Light's original self, his dearest friend, and his soul even comes to their help during the fight against Elidibus. It puts a lot of his interactions with the Warrior of Light in another light after this.
  • Also notable, when he shows up during the Seat of Sacrifice, he is considerably less hunched over then Emet-Selch was previously, and wears a white mask rather then the red of the Convocation. Taken together, this symbolizes Hades having been freed of his burdens, and finally able to rest.
  • Information from Endwalker puts Emet-Selch's appearance in an entirely new light, as it's revealed that whenever Azem would call for help, Emet-Selch was always the first to answer. Even in death, when you yourself dealt the final blow, he still comes to you when you call.
• The fact that 5.3 ends up with more or less an Everybody Lives ending, sans Elidibus who even then is questionable considering Emet-Selch briefly came back. All the Scions are able to get back to their bodies, and even though Graha had to sacrifice his Exarch body he still was able to save his soul and memories and safely implant them in his Source self. After all the sacrifices that have been made so far it is nice to have an ending where no one has to truly die.
• If you chat up Y'mhitra, Y'shtola's half-sister, after the events of 5.3, she'll mention that Y'shtola wrote her a letter once she was back on the Source to tell her sister she was safe. Not odd...until she also mentions that Y'shtola never writes, leaving her wondering what exactly happened on the First to bring about this change. It would seem Y'shtola's time there has caused her to soften a bit in regards to the people close to her.
• In the 5.3 quest Food for the Soul, you consult with Rammbroes of the Sons of Saint Coinach regarding helping the Scions. He doesn't have information on that front, but he does make a request of you. Having been kept appraised of events in the first, up to and including the true identity of the Crystal Exarch, he ask the Warrior of Light to deliver a message to him: A Releasing from the Promise letting him know that, as far as the Sons are concerned, he's fullfilled his duty and can go from there however he wishes. The Exarch regards the words as heavy, but appreciated, and asks the Warrior of Light to tell Rammbroes, if given the chance, that he will and is.
• The fact so many people assist you in the Gauntlet of Heroes is already deserving an entry for it, but it comes shortly after Elidibus' attempt at calling you out for your past actions. After he tried to break the Warrior of Darkness by trying to make them second guess themselves, the fact all those who helped you, and those you helped, offer their assistance in helping you reach the Crystal Tower serves as a heartwarming sign of how wrong he truly is. The "era" of the Warrior of Darkness may have ended, but Norvrandt's gratitude and support for them certainly hasn't.
  • When you reach the Lakeland segment of the dungeon, you're joined by the various Role Quest characters. Granson plunges into the fray with a line that reinforces how he's changed with the Warrior of Darkness's help:
  Granson: Watch me, Milinda! This time I fight not to avenge, but to protect!
• The Custom Delivery questlines in general are this for the three expansions so far:
  • Princess Kurenai's questline sees her working with you to help her people of Sui-no-Sato embrace the surface world. Considering the place has a history of being xenophobic, it's a big step in the right direction.
  • Kai-Shirr's questline sees him and his friends work to adapt the Beehive for a post-Vauthry Eulmore. Kai-Shirr hardly has any work experience, especially after his first attempt early in the expansion ended dismally, but throughout his personal journey, he grows into an honest businessman that proves his mettle in bringing new visitors.
  • The conclusion of Ehll Tou's custom delivery questline shows her having issues when she does her latest trip to the Sea of Clouds, trying not to worry you. Hautdilong immediately grows worried for her and immediately makes an effort to see she is ok, giving you her hammer and asking you to go ahead. When you arrive at the Sea of Clouds, you are greeted with a rather interested friend of hers whom tells you she wished not to be seen, but agrees to give her the hammer. Hautdilong shows up eventually too and cries out for her in worry, only for her to appear, telling him to pipe down a bit....and revealing she has evolved in size, along with having much more dexterity than one would expect, wielding the hammer brought for her and still holding her previous bag. Not only is Hautdilong relieved to see she is OK, he also addresses her friend who returns the gesture of friendship. When you return to the Firmament, the area changes a bit more as Ehll Tou explains that the group showing up and openly greeting them as friends has given other dragons vastly more open minds to the point the firmament now has Dragonets floating around it conversing happily with the residents interested in them. (Bearing in mind that they started off very wary of them.) After the Dragonsong War, this is a sign things are finally moving on between humans and dragons, it's sweet to watch the curious dragons and the people talking with them. To top it off, Ehll Tou and Hautdilong craft a whistle for you to summon her as a mount!
• Tales from the Shadows story "A Dream Partnership" tells the tale on how Seto and Ardbert met and how they grew an everlasting bond. While it starts off bleak in that Seto was abused by his former master, Lamunth the Jade Fox, Ardbert used his bounty for capturing the Jade Fox to acquire ownership of an emaciated Seto. He refused to give up on the amaro, having a background on animal husbandry and saw Seto as an equal. The one event that truly forged this trust was during a hunt on the Amber Terror, where he was able to draw out the hunt mark for it to be slain by Ardbert, Lamitt, and Branden, being awarded a medallion from the hunt's treasure horde. It also gives extra insight on the medallion you helped retrieve from the bottom of the lake, showing how much he cherished it and his time with Ardbert.
• "Ere Our Curtain Falls" ends with a poem by Emet-Selch about his downfall and thereafter, confirming that the Warrior of Light called his very soul back from the Lifestream with Azem's power during the Seat of Sacrifice trial, and that him saving the party was a conscious choice to place the future in the hands of the sundered.
  And thus the aether beckons me
  To depths of black eternity,
  To dream of things long lost and gone,
  And futures which might yet be won─
  Though not by me, lest you mistake,
  For others wait, the stage to take,
  And while their worth is far from sure,
  I bid the falling curtain─pause.
  Let "encore" be my final word,
  Their epilogue to death preferred.
• "An Unpromised Tomorrow" is from the perspective of the president of Garlond Ironworks in the Bad Future that the Crystal Exarch came from. The day before G'raha Tia's departure, they have a heartfelt talk about hope and courage. The following day, after the crystal tower has vanished back into the past, the president is left wondering what to do when his timeline doesn't vanish. The real kicker, though, is when the disappearance of the crystal tower wakes up none other than Midgardsormr from his centuries of recuperation. The president is terrified that they've upset the ancient dragon god, but when they talk Midgardsormr admits that he had been watching their progress, and was impressed that beings with such short lifespans could stick to the same goal for two hundred years and multiple generations. Then the dragon basically asks, "What now?"
  In my mind’s eye, I glimpsed a world where the Eighth Umbral Calamity had never come to pass, where Eorzea’s champion bestrode the realm, unbroken. But just as suddenly, I saw that this was G’raha Tia’s future, and not ours. Yet the skills we had honed to make that dream a reality were still ours to employ... Another image flashed before me.
  “I see a world pulled back from the brink.”
  This time, Midgardsormr’s booming laughter was unmistakable.
  “Very well. Under my protection shalt thou and thine rebuild, gaining newfound knowledge and the wisdom to wield it. Thus shall the children of man usher in a new Astral Era.”
  And so our journey began anew. Would that G’raha Tia could see all that we will accomplish. Though we shall remain forever on different pages of history─and different books, besides─I take comfort in knowing we strive for a future of the selfsame brightness.
• In 5.4 Alisie and G'raha achieve what Eorzea thought impossible: A cure for tempering. The very first patient to be treated and returnd to normal? Ga Bu the koboldling. As with any sort of treatment there are still details to iron out, but this means the dawn of a day where the tempered can be saved instead of put to the sword has at last appeared on the horizon.
• The end of Matoya's Relict has a small, understated one, but throughout Shadowbringers, the end-of-dungeon cutscene has shown the WoL closing their eyes and just looking tired. At the end of the Relict, however? They're back to beaming with pride and cheering at their victory.
• The twins sharing with you the respect they have for each other - while the other isn't present of course. Alisaie admits to admiring her brother's desires to use Sharlayan's knowledge to aid others, even in the face of his father's disapproval, while Alphinaud praises his sister's drive to continue trying to achieve the impossible - in this case, curing tempering - even when he himself had given up on the idea. Though they may often bicker, its clear they love each other dearly and recognise the other's strengths.
• The conclusion to the Eden storyline has a number of moments but few standout above the bond between Gaia and Ryne. The former has now completely adapted to her friendship with Ryne, even initiating a few moments between them^note How much of this is attributed to her memories being siphoned by Mitron not known.. and her most precious moments being shown in the final boss battle of the raid wing all being with Ryne. In the end her necklace that was made with Ryne turns out to be a major component in helping the pair find each other when Gaia feels lost in the darkness, desperatly calling to her friend who is frantically fighting against despair to pull her back. When Ryne finally does bring Gaia back to conciousness, the empty suddenly springs to life with aether balanced and the theme of Garden plays. Gaia is also seen to still hold onto her bond with Mitron, despite the actions he commited to try and control her, she never forgets that he isn't doing it from a place of spite, but love for her, and holds hope that one day perhaps they may reunited...and promises to keep a diary so that whichever reincarnation of her is present, she will have a way to remember. For now, she chooses to be with Ryne who has worked so hard to help her and Ryne is overjoyed her new friend is simply safe and ready to make new memories with her.
• Monstrous amalgamation of Ryne's memories as it is, the Fatebreaker's dying words is proof of how much Thancred means to her. They're his parting words before he returned to The Source.
  Fatebreaker: She deserves...all the happiness...in the world...
• Throughout 2020's Starlight Celebration event, the player is given several letters from certain locations thanking them for all they've done or wishing them well. The more storylines you've completed, the more letters you get. Although none of the letters are signed, it's fairly easy to deduce who sent them:
  • Drowning Wench (Baderon), House Borel (Aymeric), Carline Canopy (Mother Miounne), Bigwest Shortstop (Brayflox), The Quicksand (Momodi), Rhalgr's Reach (Lyse), Maelstrom Command (Merlwyb), A traveling bird (Alpha and Omega), Lotus Stand (Kan-E-Senna), The faerie kingdom (Feo Ul), The Fragrant Chamber (Nanamo), A distant world (Ryne), Menphina's Arms (Zhloe Aliapoh)
• The Stinger of the Sorrow of Werlyt shows what was in the synthetic auracite Alfonse left behind for Allie. They're all the happy memories the children had, up until they join the army under Gaius's unit. The last bit of data was a message to her, reminding her that they'll always be with her, even after they've gave up their lives to liberate Werlyt. The sentiment touches her so deeply, it snaps her out of her catatonia.
• The end of Gaius' story in the Sorrow of Werlyt questline shows just how far he has come, not only personally but in the eyes of those who witnessed him. Back in 1.0, he was seen as a conqurer and fearsome legatus of the empire, but now he is seen as a welcomed leader among those who he once saught to take control over. Even his companion Valdeaulin, a man widowed by Gaius' actions, has now let his desire for revenge be put to pasture and sincerely believes he made the correct call in sparing Gaius when he first met him. Gaius even affirms his desire to lead the effort to restore Werlyt's as an independant state. Without his mask, you even see how much emotion he displays when it comes to matters of his children, particularly after the fight against the Diamond Weapon. He has come a very long way, but at last he's working for a peaceful cause, and even the Warrior of Light seems proud to see him.
• Estinien and the Scions manage to rouse Tiamat from millenia of lamentation to save her children from the Telophoroi, reversing her tempering and freeing her in the process. After Lunar Bahamut is defeated, she flies off to protect the rest of her brood. Hraesvelgar and Midgardsomnr had given up on ever seeing her beyond her bindings again, but thanks to the mortals they had been fighting until recently, she's back.
• The Paglth'an dungeon. For years both in-universe and out, the Amalj'aa have been enemies to be fought and fanatical servants of Ifrit save for a few defectors in the Brotherhood of Ash. But when Fandaniel sends an army of tempered Garleans and dragons to assail their homelands and take them captive, the Eorzean alliance sends its forces to fight alongside the Amalj'aa, with even Ser Aymeric and Lucia taking the field in person. And once the Warrior of Light and the Scions slay Lunar Bahamut at the dungeon's end, they're approached by an Amalj'aa warleader who declares that the Alliance's dead lie beside Amalj'aa dead and resolves to bury the hatchet with Ul'dah in honor of their sacrifice.
  • A small detail that follows on from Merlwyb's earnest efforts in 5.4: there are kobolds fighting alongside the Alliance forces in Paglth'an.
• Seeing Alphinaud basically gush over Estinien like a kid brother is quite heartwarming to see, especially since he sees him like a brother he never had and the Warrior of Light can point this out if you choose to respond that way too. The fact that Estinien smiles and acknowledges how strong Alphinaud has become since their adventures in Heavensward makes the feeling all the more sweeter for him...although in an amusing twist, he mistakes Alisaie for her twin brother when he first says this, which makes her blow a gasket.
• Some bittersweet bits from the YoRHa: Dark Apocalypse questline:
  • One of Konogg's messages confirming that unlike 2P, 2B and 9S were Good All Along, fighting to save Norvrandt from the baleful sphere^note implied to be a Seed of Destruction from Drakengard. Those who have completed NieR: Automata know that the humans that YoRHa fights for are long extinct; yet they would still fulfill their function for a people from a world beyond their own. YoRHa and its mission may have been a lie, but its androids would genuinely fight to help humanity, given the chance.
  • The final quest ends with a cutscene in which Konogg, at the end of his rope trying to bring Anogg back, is suddenly approached by Anogg, who declares that the two of them have a whole world waiting for them. They depart hand in hand…long before the Warrior of Darkness does, finding Konogg's turban left behind and a mead for one of the people injured in the attack on Komra. Though the Warrior and the Komra dig site chief can only hope that Konogg will return, the player can only hope that Konogg and Anogg are together, whether they are in Norvrandt or the world beyond the baleful sphere.
• Many, if not all, of the sidequests set in the Firmament are this, but highlights include:
  • One of the residents requests your intervention regarding some shady-looking guys hanging around the Firmament—mostly around the orphanage in fact. When you confront them at the orphanage, it turns out that they're actually former Temple Knights who defended Ishgard at the end of the Dragonsong War, and took injuries that ensured that they can never fight again. Now, they have found a new purpose by helping out these kids. When you report your findings to the concerned resident, she decides to go the the men and apologize for suspecting them of ill intent.
    Rasequin: So that's what this is all about... Well, for what it's worth, I don't blame folk for being suspicious. We're not exactly the sort you see working at an orphanage. The three of us, we used to be Temple Knights. We were there when the Horde descended on the Steps of Faith. And we all took wounds that forced us to hang up our shields. We're grateful to still be alive, though. And we have you to thank for it. Nowadays, we help retired soldiers find work and look after orphans. Truth be told, at first we thought it was some bad jest when they said we'd be taking care of children. After all, we were knights and not nursemaids. We didn't feel equal to the task.
    Orphan Boy: You look after us, play with us, and make tasty food for us! We're grateful to you all!
    Rasequin: But the children seem happy enough. And here we are. You can assure the concerned citizen that the children are in no danger.

• The restoration of Ishgard's Firmament is this in spades. Whether it be crafting crucial supplies or gathering much needed resources, you are quite literally helping a wounded nation rebuild homes for its desperate citizens brick by brick. As you progress through the Restoration questline just about every Ishgardian you come across knows exactly who you are as the one who ended the Dragonsong War, and treat you with all the respect and gratitude that implies since they know that it was your heroic efforts that allowed such efforts to rebuild to begin in the first place. To finally see a people that had known almost nothing but war and suffering for over a thousand years begin to thrive once again is nothing short of amazing, and it's all thanks to you.
• The first major cutscene in 5.5 part 2 has a meeting of the Grand Company leaders with the leaders of the beast tribes - not the Allied Tribes, the leaders like the mainstream Sahagin, the Vundu Vanu Vanu, and the Qilayna Ananta there. With a resounding success, the pact is forged and the untempered beast tribes agree to cease all hostilities. With a beaming smile and immense amount of hope, the Grand Company of Eorzea is born, and the divide of Fantastic Racism between spoken and beastmen is so close to being completely and utterly shattered. As a show of faith, the leaders even gift the beast tribes their own Porxies, to help cure their own tempered and come even closer to ending the threat of Primals once and for all. The end of the world is just around the corner, but the Scion's efforts have, finally, paid off by bringing a nearly perfect peace to Eorzea.
• The level 80 Dragoon quest has the Warrior of Light joining Orn Khai in speaking with Nidhogg's daughter, Faunehm, in order to learn more about Nidhogg so they can honor his memory. The duo gather Nidhogg's favorite flowers, mist lilies, and lay them in the Royal Menagerie where Nidhogg through Shinryu (in the form of his eyes) was slain. The Warrior of Light offers their parting words to Nidhogg's legacy, showing that while the two of them were enemies, they understand what the wyrm went through and know that his people will continue to sing the songs of his legacy.