;Summary:
The Elrics arrive at Resembool with Major Armstrong and greet teenager Winry Rockbell and her grandmother Pinako – Ed’s team of personal car mechanics. After receiving a stern reprimand (and a harsh beating) from Winry for destroying her master automail hand, Ed is informed by Pinako that his automail leg also needs to be modified to compensate for his recent growth. He promises to have both limbs ready in three days, and the Rockbell women get to work. Edward gets a replacement prosthetic leg to walk on, while Pinako changes her usual one, takes Alphonse’s advice and goes to visit her mother’s grave. While Armstrong helps Pinako with the housework, she asks him to tell her what kind of life Ed and Al lead, citing their reluctance to send a message home as the source of her concern. He explains that their notoriety gets them into a lot of trouble, but their remarkable strength is enough to see them through, prompting Pinako to remember the night of the failed human transmutation when Alphonse – in his armor – came to her house and clutched him. newly crippled brother in arms, as well as the events surrounding the installation of his automail and his enlistment in the army. She further explains that she has known both boys since they were born and was a friend of their father who suddenly disappeared one day. Armstrong asks what happened to Winry’s parents, to which Pinako replies that they both went to the front lines of the Ishval Civil War to serve as emergency medics and were killed in action. When it is revealed that the Elrics live in Rockbell’s house, even though they grew up in that town, Pinako reveals that Edward burned Elric’s house to the ground on the day he received his state alchemist certificate three years ago to remove any path of retreat from his ultimate goal.Three days later, with both limbs completed, Winry and Pinako begin the quick but painful task of connecting them to Edward’s nervous system and modifying them for use. Winry tries to explain to Ed that his new arm is less durable than its predecessor, but Edward rushes to repair Al’s armor. After collecting all the broken pieces, Edward carefully transformed them back into their proper form, being careful not to affect the area where his brother’s Blood Rune is drawn, as the rune itself is what keeps Al’s soul bound to the steel. After the match to make sure both of their repaired bodies are working properly, the boys go inside for dinner, where Edward expresses his optimism about the day he will no longer require automatic mail repairs, but as Ed goes to bed, Alphonse expresses his gratitude to Winry and Pinako. on behalf of his brother. The next morning, the Elrics and Armstrong left at dawn to catch the nearest train to Central City. Pinako asks them to come back for a visit if they ever crave a home-cooked meal, and Winry, groggy from three days and two nights of work, cheerfully waves goodbye from her bedroom. However, that evening, when she wakes up from recovering from her lost sleep, she discovers the bolt she forgot to put in Edward’s arm.