Heartwarming / Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny

• Cagalli receiving the Akatsuki, along with a recording from Uzumi, encouraging her to trust in her friends and loved ones. She then takes off to defend her homeland.
  • "Cagalli Yula Athha, Akatsuki, taking off!" The Lioness of Orb is back!
  • Uzumi's entire speech to Cagalli, just as she enters the room housing the shiny gold Akatsuki:
  Uzumi: Cagalli, should the day come when you have need of additional power consider this gift my answer to that need. There are many things I wasn't able to teach you myself. But if you have an open heart you can learn everything you will ever need from those around you, from those who love and support you. Therefore I can only give you what you see now before you. Power is what everyone makes of it. Foolish are those who hope for it in excess. Yet equally foolish are those who resent it for no reason. Think of it as a sword for protection if you need this now then take it. If it will help you walk the right path it is yours. However, I had hoped the day would never come when this door would be opened. If it has been opened then these words may be in vain, but my dear Cagalli, I wish you a long and happy life.
• Athrun's open sorrow when The Freedom is destroyed, and Kira is presumed dead. And some could argue that when Shinn comments he did it for Athrun could count. Though it only threw salt into the injury for Athrun.
  Athrun: KIRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
• On the flipside to the Freedom's destruction, Shin was able to get some closure for the deaths of his family and Stellar. And given the nightmare that Stellar called a life, it's nice that there was some retribution for her.
• Episode 42: Kira still having complete trust in Athrun, in spite of the fact that Athrun was recently working for ZAFT.
• Phase 43, Neo to Murrue:
  "I think that maybe... I know you. Yes... I know you. My body knows. My eyes, my ears, my arms... And that's why I couldn't just fly off. I think I know how hard it's been for you. It's been hard for me too. I would like... to stay right here, with you, by your side."
• "Don't worry; I'll never leave you again... Murrue." HE'S BA-ACK!!! What lead up to this was quite possibly the biggest CMOA in the entire Gundam franchise, and this just seals the deal.
• You know what? Shinn and Kira meeting face to face and becoming friends at the end of the Special Edition. Take that Hatedom—everybody wins.
• The things that make Rey smile are rare but what makes him do so to begin with is quite heartwarming to watch. Aside from Durandal, there is seeing him enjoy himself playing the piano and seeing his friends Shinn and Lunamaria succeed.
• At the end of the special edition we're treated to a scene of Kira and Lacus running up and embracing each other when they cross paths in one of the PLANTs. About half those present watch the two with warm, amused smiles, while a number of others go a bit slack-jawed, including Shinn and Luna. Manages to be funny and heartwarming at the same time.
  • Shinn's expression is rather noteworthy because he comes across as a lot more... relaxed than any other time in the series. Maybe he's finally found a bit of peace.
  • Really, when one looks at the bigger picture, Kira and Lacus' bond, despite it not being as overtly romantic as the others, especially Kira's part, is staggeringly sweet and heartwarming for a Living Emotional Crutch type of relationship. It's pretty clear from SEED (especially after the additions of HD Remaster) that Kira might have psychologically collapsed completely long ago, maybe even become someone like Shinn, by the sheer constant dehumanization and tragedies since Heliopolis were it not for Lacus' loving devotion, guidance for him to be better, and assurances that he's a person who deserves to be alive and be human like anyone else. Kira's just too traumatized, especially because of Flay, to fully reciprocate, but it's clear he values Lacus, the only one who never had any hangups about him, more than he even does himself. For her part, while it seems that she gives more than she takes, Lacus values the fact that Kira has always been someone who never conformed to the notions and ideals everyone else did, just like her. It's by no means the perfect relationship that the show or creators low-key try to show, but given the circumstances, it's probably the healthiest for both of them.
• While the status of their relationship is a hotly debated subject, there are plenty of moments between Athrun and Cagalli during the series. There's him doing everything to protect her during the first episode, to comforting her when Shinn insults her father and him giving her an engagement ring. Cagalli also returns the favor plenty of times, by supporting Athrun's decision to go to the PLANTs and taking care of him after he's critically injured from his fight with Shinn and Rey. They also share a very emotional goodbye hug when she's forced to stay behind to help Orb.
• While a small one, the chatter of the townsfolk in episode 21 in regards to their feeling towards Coordinators, especially if you remember how most of the world apart from Orb felt about them just a few short years earlier. Despite what happens later it's nice to see the blind hatred SEED and Destiny show most Naturals having for Coordinators has lessened since the first war, especially given previous events in Destiny by that point.
• Another minor one. To facilitate a meeting between him and Kira and Cagalli, Athrun contacts Miriallia and they get along well in their meeting. It shows how Athrun has made an effort to actually meet at least one of the friends Kira had repeatedly told him he was fighting to protect, which Athrun, in his own myopia then, refused to believe. All the more so that he was the one who killed Tolle, but as we saw last time, Miriallia had already forgiven him because hating and wanting vengeance was pointless to her. Both have made their peace over it.
• Lacus almost gets assassinated twice by snipers, the first by a Coordinator Special Forces team and the second by Sarah (Meer's manager). Both times, one of Athrun's creations indirectly alert them of their presence, the first by Mr. Pink and the second by Birdy. In the case of the first incident, it is as though Athrun's presence is always watching over Kira and Lacus to protect them.
• Both times, their interventions in Minerva v. EA/Orb naval battles accomplished nothing but more confusion and death on both faction's sides, and bringing Cagalli to agonizing tears. However, both times, it's clear to see that she HAS many loyalists among the Orb military. It's just that they are at that point under the thumb of Yuna and Neo, the latter of whom would extremely likely kill them all if they mutinied like they clearly want to. Amagi admits as much when he and quite the number of surviving troops ordered by Col. Todaka to join her all apologize for being unable to acknowledge her in their position and once more swear fealty to her aboard the Archangel's bridge.
  • Hell, like with Myrna episodes again, it's implied they know that Kira is her brother, and thus likely public knowledge among Orb's government and military at this point. When he affirms their ideals and course of action, they all salute him. Also a brief moment of funny, when the poor boy is at a loss when so many soldiers salute in reverence to him.
• The final ending song, "Kimi wa Boku ni Niteiru". Other than the very heartwarming song, the return of See-Saw, and a much more hopeful than either "Find the Way" from last season (or "Distance" for SEED's HD Remaster), we have.
  • For the first time in both series, MU LA FLAGA is finally in an ending as he is in the present!!! Throughout SEED, he was conspicuously absent in both ending visuals, and Murrue is depressed both times, which clearly foreshadowed his (supposed) death. He was in the previous ending to this, but that was his SEED self, before we got a confirmation he's alive after all. He's finally here where he belongs, at Murrue's side, and both of them happy!
  • The final shot of Kira and Athrun, arms around each other like the best of friends that they've always been. Behind them are their machines, with Infinite Justice behind Kira and Strike Freedom behind Athrun. A fitting visual for these two who have been the cornerstone of the Cosmic Era since 2002. Two years worth of their troubled friendship, through clashing allegiances and ideals, now with Athrun's doubts finally cleared for good, they fight alongside each other once more, to fight for freedom and justice to the world.