;Summary:
After Alphonse’s explosive declaration that he never asked for his current body, Edward dejectedly apologizes and promises to do everything in his power to return his brother to his human state. However, remembering Barry Chopper’s words, Al angrily questions whether he was ever truly human, suggesting that – while alchemical theory postulates the existence of a soul and mind as fundamental parts of a human being – these ethereal concepts have never been verified and could possibly be made . Alphonse remembers Edward mentioning a few days ago that there was something he was too afraid to talk to him about and angrily states that Edward was too scared to say it, that a human boy named Alphonse Elric never existed and the soul in his armor is an artificial creation; his supposed memories are only falsehoods confirmed by Winry and Pinako and everyone who claims to have known him.Edward storms off without answering, but before Al can say more, Winry furiously and tearfully attacks him with a wrench, berating him for his foolishness. Winry states that what Ed was really afraid to ask was whether or not Al blamed him for what happened to them. Recalling the night of the accident when Edward was lying awake at the Rockbells Clinic, he explains that Edward cried himself to sleep in pain because he was afraid his little brother would hate him for initiating their tragedy. Winry orders Al to go to his older brother and apologize, and when he complies, Al finds Ed on the roof. However, before he can properly apologize, Edward engages him in one of their matches under the pretense that he needs to relax his body through exercise, and manages to win by tripping Alphonse with a hospital sheet. As Ed notes that this was his first victory, the brothers reminisce about all the fights they had as kids. Edward asks Al if he still believes the memories are fake and Al apologizes, saying that his desire to regain his human body is also real. After reaching an understanding, they renew their vow to return their bodies to normal, noting that they will need much more strength for the challenges ahead. Winry, who watched the scene with Maes, comments (contrary to his earlier statement) that there are certain fears and feelings that always need to be voiced.Later, with Winry out, the Elrics meet with Lt. Col. Hughes and Major Armstrong in the hospital room to discuss what they’ve learned so far. Ed creates simple drawings of the two people who knocked him out of Lab 5, as well as some of their Ouroboros tattoos and the transmutation circle used to create the Philosopher’s Stone. Standing guard outside the room is 2nd Lt. Maria Ross and Sergeant Denny Brosh, however, are visibly shocked when a certain person greets them and asks to see Fullmetal. They enter the room and the four inside are as shocked as their guards when they are greeted by Führer King Bradley himself, the executive head of Amestris’ military government. After bowing amicably to the Fullmetal Alchemist, the Führer turns to Armstrong and mentions that he heard news of the Major’s recent snooping into the affairs of the military command. Before the confused Major can answer, Bradley then turns to Ed and reveals that he is aware that the Elrics are looking for the Philosopher’s Stone, asking the boys how much they know about the Stone and gravely stating that their answer matters a lot. However, when Edward is unable to answer, the Führer merely mocks the situation as a joke and playfully chastises Fullmetal for being so uptight. He mentions that he too has become aware of suspicious goings-on within the military and expresses his desire to uncover the truth. Working through some of Armstrong’s notes about the Stone and Lab 5, Bradley notes that the researchers listed on them – those who worked at Lab 5 before it was decommissioned – all mysteriously disappeared shortly before Lab Five collapsed, suggesting that , that their unknown enemy is moving faster than even the Führer’s information network can track. Claiming that the Elrics, Hughes, and Armstrong are all trusted subordinates, Führer Bradley declares the matter extremely dangerous and forbids them to investigate further or discuss their findings with anyone else. He informs them that in this situation, when the whole army alone could be the enemy, they should trust no one, but that he will call them for help when the time is right. Suddenly, however, Bradley hears the arrival of his bodyguards and, remarking that he has snuck away from them for this visit, hastily exits a nearby window with a cheery farewell.Winry returns to find them all dazed by their meeting and reveals that she was buying train tickets at Edward’s request. Ed explains that he and Al will leave for the southern region city of Dublith the next day, and Winry, spying on their map, cheerfully notes that between Dublith and Central City is a city called Rush Valley, which is known for its automail studies and engineers. . She begs the boys to take her on a trip, gets them to oblige, and the next day the three of them head down the tracks to their next destination.That evening, as Hughes sits at his desk discussing with his colleague Captain Focker the rising death toll in Reole’s recent rampage of religious unrest, as well as the brewing turmoil in the northern and western regions, Maes makes a shocking discovery and rushes to the records. room to confirm his suspicions. Horrified by the connection he discovers there between the problems in Reola and the Ishval Civil War, and wondering who might be behind it, he decides to immediately inform both Colonel Mustang and Führer Bradley. However, as he says this, the door to the recording room suddenly closes and he finds himself alone with Lust, who explains that he now knows too much to be allowed to live. Recognizing her Ouroboros mark from Edward’s drawing, Hughes stands guard in time to avoid mortal injury when Lust attacks with her claws, managing to counterattack with one of the thrust knives hidden in the uniform. Bleeding profusely, Hughes flees the recording room, accidentally leaving Lust for dead as he heads for the telephone office. He quickly states that he needs to contact the Führer, but when he picks up the phone, another realization dawns on him and he hangs up again before rushing outside to a public phone booth. Once there, he calls the Eastern Region military headquarters and demands to speak to Colonel Mustang, but is met with some difficulty due to using an outside phone line. While angrily verifying his identity, remarking that there is no time to waste.