;Summary:
Following Paninya through the desolate mountains outside of Rush Valley, Edward, Winry, and Alphonse recall the recent events that led them on this journey.While they were back in the city, Winry examined the legs captured by Paninya with the automail and discovered that their design involved aspects of engineering and metal tempering beyond her abilities, and demanded that the young pickpocket introduce her to the mechanic who built them. in exchange for letting her theft of Ed’s watch slide. After Ed reluctantly repairs the damage he’s caused to the town, the quartet head to the remote mountain mansion of Paninya’s reclusive engineer Dominic.Paninya explains that her friend Dominic lives alone to avoid the noise of the city and to mine iron ore from the mineral-rich mountains, but when the group arrives, they are also met by Dominic’s son Ridel and Ridel’s pregnant wife Satella. Grumpy Dominic quickly takes a liking to Winry due to her high level of expertise, while Ed and Al head to Satella and marvel at her impending delivery. After examining Edward’s limbs with automatic mail at Winry’s request, Dominic approves of her suggestion, but notes that the limbs are too heavy for the young man and may be why he is so small for his age. Taking his expertise to heart, Winry asked to become Dominic’s apprentice, but he immediately refused, citing his reluctance to accept apprentices. He asks Paninya and her guests to leave, but a sudden storm traps them all inside the house for the time being.While they wait for the rain to stop, Paninya explains to Winry that she lost her legs and parents in a train accident during her childhood, and that Dominic found her mired in depression and gave her new legs for free on automail. her will to live. Although she tried to pay him back, Dominic refused Paninya’s money, but she stubbornly started pickpocketing to get enough funds to make the proper repayments. However, Winry disapproves of Paninya’s method and instead suggests that Paninya earn her money honestly to match Dominic’s sincere desire to help her. On her advice, Paninya decides to start her new journey by returning Edward’s pocket watch, but when she takes it out to examine it, Winry realizes that Ed has alchemically sealed it. He prys it open with his nifty tools, expecting to see something Ed finds embarrassing, but instead sees a hand-engraved message on the inside of the envelope: “Don’t forget 3 Oct 11”. Winry, sobered by this esoteric remark, decides once again to ask Dominic for an apprenticeship. But before she can reach him, she rushes back to Paninya and Ridel to tell them that Satella has collapsed. The three rush to the woman to see what’s wrong, only to be told that a baby is on the way. As everyone panics, Dominic prepares to go out and get the doctor, but returns alone moments later; the rope bridge into the city was struck by lightning and collapsed.Ed, Al, and Winry accompany Dominic back to the bridge to see if it can be repaired with alchemy, but Ed’s attempt fails because the ravine is too wide and the water below is moving too fast to build anything more solid. Dominic decides to make the long journey into town while Edward laments his helplessness, and when the Elrics and Winry return to the house, Paninya informs them that Satella’s water has broken. Winry staves off further panic and decides that she will have to deliver the baby herself in the absence of a doctor.