Fullmetal Alchemist Wiki
Register
Advertisement

This article is about the episode. For other uses, see Philosopher's Stone (disambiguation).

Synopsis

A disheartened Ed resigns from his position as State Alchemist just as Winry arrives into town to visit. Winry however, may end up as the next victim of the city's serial killer.


Full Synopsis

The rain is pouring down and Ed is still mourning for Nina while Al and the State Military observe his anguish at the horrific consequences of Tucker's alchemical research. Lt. Colonel Mustang tells Ed that hopeless causes like this is to be expected for him to face on his and Al's chosen path and encourages Ed to move on with his life. Major Hughes arrives with his team to examine the crime scene.

The next day, much to his chagrin, Ed is assigned to organize and analyze Tucker's research as the military had executed him to cover up his crimes. While helping Ed, Al soon notices that Tucker had been researching about an item called the Philosopher's Stone, an alchemical artifact that they could possibly use to fully recover their lost bodies since it bypasses the law of Equivalent Exchange, a belief that the brothers hold dear to. Still tormented over Tucker's true colors and the horrible demise of Nina, Ed chides Al for not caring much about the tragic loss of the girl whom they've grown to love as a little sister and excludes Tucker's research on the Philosopher's Stone as just a bedtime story. Ed goes straight to Mustang, demanding that he be involved in bringing in the serial killer that has been killing women, believing that he had killed Nina. Mustang accepts but tells Ed to resign from his post as a state alchemist.

As Ed leaves Central Command, he is met by Al waiting for him. Al tries to talk to Ed, convincing him that he is just as hurt by the loss of Nina as he is, but what they can do is put their talents to better use through research so that if another girl like Nina ever comes along, they'll know how to save her. However, Ed ignores his brother and runs far away from him, so Al leaves Ed alone to cool off for the time being. While wandering the streets, Ed encounters the same man he saw at the library. The man surmises that Ed must be a state alchemist for being able to enter the library. Ed responds he gave up his position. Feeling relieved, the man says Ed is better off, leaving him confused. As the man walks away, he whispers to himself that if Ed was still a state alchemist, his tattooed arm would "destroy him". Meanwhile, Winry arrives in Central to pay a surprise visit to the Elrics.

Alphonse meets with 2nd Lt. Riza Hawkeye just outside Central Command around the corner to ask her about the Philosopher's Stone. She responds she knows nothing about it other than the stone being a legend. Hawkeye then suggests that Al should try seeking another hobby, as it's been said that bad things happen to those who attempt to seek the stone. Führer King Bradley, who is ears dropping from behind Al, reveals himself when he hears of the stone. Despite Al not seeming to know who the man is, the Führer asks him why does he want to pursue the stone. Al admits he attempts to use the stone to recover what his brother lost. The Führer informs Al that from time to time, he will hear about some alchemist who is succeeding in forging a Philosopher's Stone and there should be plenty of records on the subject down at the National Central Library. Knowing only state alchemists have access there, Al thanks the Führer and leaves to find Ed. Hawkeye asks the Führer in all due respect on why he allowed Al to chase such a feudal pursuit like that, to which the Führer responds that it's a good thing for youngsters to have dreams to follow.

Hughes meets with Ed in the mess hall at Central Command to talk about the serial killer. Hughes mentions that with all their resources, they haven't been able to confirm anything even with inspecting cars that could hide bodies, but Ed believes a larger car might be a perfect blind-spot. However, a girl delivering meat from a butcher shop learns from one of the chefs that Ed has the ability to transmute without a circle. When informed that he has a visitor, Ed goes outside but Winry has already saw the refrigerated truck from the butcher shop and is tricked by the girl into entering it. Figuring out that his visitor is Winry from a small screw he saw on the street which fits perfectly in his automail arm, Ed realizes that a refrigerated truck is a perfect blind spot to hide a body and follows the watery trail left by the truck. Ed arrives at the butcher shop and finds Winry, but he gets knocked out by the delivery girl.

When Ed wakes up, he finds himself tied to a chair with chains. He learns the delivery girl is a man in disguise and has removed Ed's automail arm to avoid taking any risks since the man is now aware of Ed's transmutation abilities. Introducing himself as Barry the Chopper, he reveals to have taken Winry hostage as she is tied with chains around pig meat. While Barry is bragging about his joy of killing, Ed uses the screw he found earlier to carve a transmutation circle on the chain holding him to break free. Barry still has the upper hand and attempts to kill Ed with his meat cleaver, even after Ed reattaches his automail arm. Just as Barry is knocked over by the pig meat that Winry inadvertently bumped into, Ed knocks Barry's meat cleaver away and almost kills him out of fear and self-defense, but luckily, Al arrives to stop Ed. Ed breaks down in tears as Al comforts him, while the authorities take Barry into custody.

Once Ed and Winry are safe, the Elrics settle down and converse. Al states that Hughes figured out that the trucks from Barry's shop had bypassed every inspection point and was able to get the military to locate Barry's location in time. Barry's arrest is considered Ed's first groundbreaking accomplishment and it gives him the fortitude to remain a state alchemist. Reminding Ed of their mission to get their bodies back, Al surmises that the Philosopher's Stone is in fact real and that because he no longer has a mortal shell, he could not feel the terror that Ed felt. Al admits he fully understands how painful it feels for Ed to be put into that situation and that is why Al is willing for them to find the stone so that they can repair what they've broken. Ed confesses to Al that he feared for his life, had no hope of being rescued, and will continue to be a dog of the military despite its flaws, finally lamenting his failure to save Nina, his words further reducing him and Winry to tears.

When he has calmed down, Ed meets with Mustang, who allows him to search for the Philosopher's Stone when not on an assignment and promises to keep the details of his and Al's human transmutation a secret as Ed receives his Fullmetal Alchemist title. While the Elrics walk through Central with Winry, Ed confirms to Al that Barry did not kill Nina since the circumstances of her death did not match his profile and he had an alibi that night. This leaves Al to wonder who did kill her as the Elrics and Winry continue on their way, unaware that the scarred man is observing them and sees Ed's State Alchemist pocket watch.


Notes

  • This episode is adapted from content in Chapter 5: The Alchemist's Suffering and Chapter 24: Fullmetal Alchemist.
  • A mistake at the beginning of the episode in the English dub had Al identify Roy Mustang as a Major when he is actually a Lieutenant Colonel.
  • Barry says that during the war in Ishval, he "saw a State Alchemist just like [Ed] kill other people with ease. [makes explosion gesture with free hand] Splat! Just like that." He's most likely referring to Solf J. Kimblee, another sociopathic soldier who "indiscriminately made women and children go BOOM!" with his alchemy.
  • When giving Edward his new State Alchemist title, Mustang remarks that it's quite ironic. This is because:
    • 鋼 (はがね, hagane), which means "steel", is sometimes used to describe a stubborn person.
    • Alphonse, who has a body made entirely of steel, is also an Alchemist. This is also provides the basis for the running gag of people mistaking Al for the famous State Alchemist. The English dub is especially ironic considering the Full part of his Fullmetal title. (His title in Japanese just means "Steel Alchemist"/"Alchemist of Steel".)
  • A mistake at the end of the episode shows Scar seeing Edward walk down the sidewalk with his pocketwatch in his left pocket. He always keeps it in his right pocket.

Site Navigation


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
Advertisement