- This article is about the episode. For the event, see Ishval Civil War.
Synopsis
A decade ago, the military descended on Ishval to end a long civil war. The unspeakable atrocities which followed continue to haunt the Ishvalan people -- and the State Alchemists who committed them.
Full Synopsis
Major Armstrong continues fighting with Scar. Recognizing that Armstrong's fighting style revolves around brute strength and alchemy, Scar dodges and counters Armstrong's attacks, resulting in his sunglasses falling off, revealing himself to be an Ishvalan. Nearly dodging Scar's attack, Armstrong realizes that since the Ishvalan people forbid alchemy, Scar intentionally does not perform the reconstruction phase of alchemy to avoid sinning himself. Wishing to deal with Fullmetal and Crystal first, Scar flees after using his next counterattack to make the tunnel cave-in.
Outside in the rain, the Elrics continue to run with Dr. Marcoh from the military and Scar, knowing things are too complicated since Brigadier General Grand showed up. Ed thinks it would be better not to return to East City for the moment since the Führer is there. However, witnessing a group of children playing in the rain, Marcoh realizes he now has had enough and no longer cares if Scar kills him. Meanwhile, the Mustang Unit surveys the ruined tunnel where Major Armstrong is. Just as Lt. Colonel Hughes arrives confirming Scar killed Grand, the injured Armstrong wakes up and confirms Scar's identity as an Ishvalan, which Colonel Mustang realizes this is why he is after state alchemists.
When the Elrics question Marcoh's choice of wanting to allow Scar to kill him, thinking Scar is doing it out of revenge for Ishval's defeat, Marcoh reveals the war was actually a massacre. Marcoh flashes back to how the viewpoints of Ishval's religion and distaste of alchemy lead to the friction between them, which escalated into a war when a military officer shot an Ishvalan child. After seven years of fighting, the state alchemists were called in to end the war. Against Marcoh's wishes, Grand decided to use the refined red water to boost their abilities, allowing alchemists such as Grand, Mustang, Armstrong and an unknown alchemist to use their enhanced power to quickly end the war, greatly massacring Ishvalan people and destroying their homes as Marcoh watches in shock the next day.
Back in the present, Scar continues to evade the military and Marcoh heals a child's injured leg before mentioning he knew two Amestrian doctors back then during the war. Those two doctors even healed anyone's injury regardless of the side they supported. Continuing his story, Marcoh reveals the final straw for him was when Grand had Mustang execute the doctors for aiding the injured Ishvalan people. Stopping a distraught Mustang from committing suicide by shouldering some of the blame for what happened, Marcoh convinces Mustang to help him desert from his post. As Marcoh finishes his story, he states that despite his defection, it was too late, and the majority of the Ishvalans had been exterminated. Ed believes that despite what happened, Scar is insane for taking revenge, including killing people that were not involved in the war. Ed uses his alchemy to repair the fracture on Al's armor that Scar inflicted earlier, stating how being able to live and be content while they still can is a better solution than revenge. However, when Ed suggests going to Resembool where the Rockbells live, Marcoh runs off in fear because he can't go there.
Meanwhile, Scar is confronted by the Mustang Unit. Mustang himself attempts to take on the murderer, but is rescued and reminded by Lt. Hawkeye that his flame alchemy does not work properly in the rain. Scar escapes onto the top of the buidling. Despite being angered by this, Mustang orders Lt. Breda to head to the train station, knowing Edward will try to use it to get Marcoh out of the city.
The Elrics catch up with Marcoh just as Scar coincidentally arrives from the top of the same building he climbed onto earlier. Finally knowing the truth about their bodies, Scar tears a gaping hole in Alphonse's side, immobilizing him, and obliterates Edward's automail arm in a flash. Ed collapses to the ground as the immobilized Al, terrified for his brother's safety, cries out desperately from his place on the pavement. Frozen in shock and despair, Ed asks Scar if he had lost his brother in the war. Scar answers that his brother was killed by a state alchemist. Ed offers his own life up in exchange for Scar's word that Al will escape unharmed, given that Al is not a state alchemist. Scar agrees to Ed's conditions and places his hand on the side of Ed’s face, preparing for the final blow, but Al - vehemently opposed to his brother's resignation - begs Ed to flee.
Marcoh intervenes and, recognizing the symbols on Scar's arm from inscriptions he found in Ishbal, uses his incomplete Philosopher's Stone on Scar, causing the man an extreme amount of agony from his tattooed arm. Before Scar can attack, Marcoh throws the stone at the palm of his hand to fully absorb it within his arm to keep the man at bay. Before Scar can run off, he is once again confronted by the Mustang Unit. Not having anticipated so many foes and unexpected turns, Scar cuts his losses and deconstructs the street beneath him, escaping into the sewer system. Ed scrambles to Al's side to check on him as the others marvel at the younger Elric's hollow constitution, but Al angrily and violently berates his brother for giving up to death when he still had a chance to survive, commanding him never to do so again. The Führer's secretary Juliet Douglas arrives, stating the Führer will put Marcoh in his custody, which Marcoh agrees with. Before leaving, Marcoh confirms to Ed his reason for not wanting to go to Resembool is the doctors that were executed in Ishbal were named Rockbell, which Ed realizes were Winry's parents. Watching as Marcoh and Douglas go, Al recognizes the latter's voice as their mother, something Ed doesn't believe due to their near-death experience.
Episode Notes
- This episode is adapted from content in Chapter 7: After the Rain
- In this episode, there is an unidentified alchemist that has a few lines. It is not until 6 episodes later in Episode 21 that he would be properly introduced as the Crimson Alchemist, Solf J. Kimblee.
See Also
Episode 5: Rain of Sorrows (2009 series)
Fullmetal Alchemist 2003 Anime episodes | |
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