Ends in tears initially, then troubles (5)
I believe the answer is:
tails
'ends' is the definition.
(tail is a kind of end)
'tears initially then troubles' is the wordplay.
'initially' says to take the initial letters.
'then' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'troubles' becomes 'ails' (as verb**).
The first letter of 'tears' is 't'.
't'+'ails'='TAILS'
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for tails that I've seen before include "Gambler's choice" , "Animals' extremities" , "A possible fall of the pound" , "the back of bears - bulls too" , "Follows closely" .)