Synopsis
Once in Central City, Ed and Al move into the vast mansion of the Sewing-Life Alchemist Shou Tucker and begin to prepare for the Alchemy exam.
Full Synopsis
Upon the arrival of the Elric brothers in Central City, Lieutenant Colonel Mustang introduces them to Shou Tucker, a State Alchemist specializing in the creation of chimeric alchemy who had earned his certification two years prior after producing a chimera capable of human speech. Arriving at Tucker's mansion, Alphonse asks Mustang if Tucker is married, but Mustang supposedly ignores him. Upon meeting Tucker as well as his four-year old daughter Nina and pet dog Alexander, Tucker is surprised yet confused by Al's appearance due to the armor. Before leaving, Mustang allows Tucker to let the Elrics live with him for the time being while they prepare for the State Alchemy Exam. Although the Elrics are excited to see the talking chimera, Tucker informs them that the creature had died shortly after it was made. He then grants the boys access to the multitude of bio-alchemical texts in his private home library.
That night at dinner, while discussing Ed's progress, Tucker admits Ed shouldn't worry about taking the exam at such a young age, but Ed doesn't care as he is too determined to back down no matter the risk. One snowy day, while the Elrics, Nina and Alexander are playing out in the snow, Major Hughes arrives and reminds Ed that today is his birthday. Surprised, Ed admits he hasn't told anyone, but Hughes states he figured it out because he is in the Investigations Department. Taking the Elrics and Nina over to his house to celebrate Ed's birthday, Hughes introduces his wife, Gracia, who is pregnant with their daughter, Elicia.
As they continue enjoying Ed's birthday celebration, that night, Gracia goes into labor, forcing Hughes to go out in the snow blizzard to fetch a doctor, leaving the Elrics and Nina with Gracia. As they help deliver the appropriate equipment needed to help a panicking Gracia, Ed suddenly uses alchemy to make a bowl of water hot and steamy, all without using a transmutation circle, much to his and Al's surprise. The Elrics and Nina ponder on what else to do out of fear as Gracia continues struggling with her labor. After a while, Hughes has returned home with a doctor and the baby is born healthy thanks to everyone's hard work. In bed, Edward displays his excitement at witnessing the creation of a human - a natural act that science has never been able to match. Despite this, Alphonse becomes quietly emotional when reminded of when he was born.
Back at Tucker's house, as the Elrics continue their studying for the exams, Al reminds Ed of the night at the Hughes home when he used alchemy without a circle, though Ed admits it was just a fluke and hasn't been able to do it since then. Ed offers to quiz Al twice as much. At the dining table with Tucker, the Elrics are informed by him about the process of the State Alchemy Exam. It starts out with a written test, then an interview and finishes off with a practical skill, which is the hardest of the three. Tucker further explains there's no way to know how many people will apply, but out of a dozen candidates, only a maximum of two candidates are chosen from the results of three different exams to become a state alchemist. The Elrics become even more worried about what's to come.
With Nina and Alexander in town, the Elrics go and take their written exams and pass. However, Al is forced by Mustang to drop out of the course before the physical exam to avoid revealing his body is hollow. Al protests, but Ed agrees with Mustang, not wanting his brother to become a slave of the military like he is soon to become. Appearing before Führer King Bradley himself for the interview, Ed responds that he made a promise to his brother and is willing to go through all the good and bad that comes with being a dog of the military.
Ed finally reaches the practical course of the exam. The first man makes a huge pillar, but is so exhausted that he rests in front of it. The next man uses water and trees to make a hydrogen blimp. However, the pillar causes the blimp to puncture which also causes the pillar to break. Ed rushes to the rescue and, without the use of a transmutation circle, reverses the falling pillar and blimp before they can crush the people underneath, and turns them into flower petals. This puts Ed at the level of state alchemist. Walking off happily on a boardwalk through sunset with Nina and Alexander, the Elric brothers declare that this is the turning point and bump fists, vowing to one day get their bodies back the way they were.
Episode Notes
- This episode is adapted from content in Chapter 5: The Alchemist's Suffering, Chapter 18: The Value of Sincerity, Chapter 19: I'll Do It for You Guys! and (possibly) Chapter 24: Fullmetal Alchemist.
- The events in this episode mark the first time (chronologically) Ed transmutes by clapping. In the manga and Brotherhood anime, Ed discovered this immediately after learning to use his automail.
- In the report from Shou Tucker that Roy Mustang is holding just after the opening, the nation of Britain is mentioned twice, despite the story taking place in an alternate world that does not include the nation of Britain. The report itself reads like an excerpt from a textbook, describing the Scientific Revolution and advancements made in that time.
- Mustang's silence when asked about Shou's wife indicated he either suspected or was fairly certain of what Shou had done to her.
- The Elrics' assistance in helping Gracia Hughes give birth to Elicia is based on their involvement in the witnessing of Satella LeCoulte giving birth to her son in the manga and 2009 anime. However, while Winry, who was present in that version, helped Satella deliver her baby while the Elrics watched, the Elrics helped Gracia deliver Elicia in the 2003 anime.
See Also
Fullmetal Alchemist 2003 Anime episodes | |
---|---|
01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 |