Synopsis
In Central to repair the Elrics, Winry grows enraged when the brothers refuse to share the truth about their lives. Meanwhile, Al's recurring questions about the nature of his existence begin to take their toll.
Full Synopsis
Edward wakes up in a hospital bed, greeted by 2nd Lt. Ross and Sgt. Brosh, but finds Alphonse by the corner whose armor is still missing its limbs. Knowing it has been twice in a row since Alphonse has been carved up, Edward promises to fix his brother. Brosh then asks Edward on what happen at the fifth laboratory, knowing the brothers were seriously hurt. Edward shrugs it off as no big deal and laments that he was one baby step away from getting his hands on the truth regarding Dr. Marcoh's research on the Philosopher's Stone. Apologizing in advance for her incoming misconduct, Ross slaps and reprimands Edward for putting himself and his brother at risk and, therefore, needs to remember that he is still a child and has to trust adults for a little bit more of the work. Edward apologizes to his bodyguards for putting them on the spot, but his attention is drawn to yet another problem when he realizes he has to call Winry to come up to Central City and repair his automail arm. However, Winry, feeling guilty over the forgotten bolt, complies readily and leaves immediately for the capital.
Upon spending the night leading his team in surveying the fifth laboratory, Lt. Colonel Hughes goes to the hospital the next day to check on the Elrics. Pretending to be hungry, Hughes has Ross and Brosh go get some food for him. Now alone with the Elrics, Hughes reveals that everything he surveyed so far has been about the chimeras, the secret equipment, and the fake Basque Grand that brought the prisoners from Central Prison to use as sacrifices. Hughes asks Ed on what happened, to which Ed can only reveal about the homunculi and how they wanted him to create a Philosopher's Stone to make them human - by using those prisoners to pull it off. Ed draws a few pictures of what he saw--a guardian whose soul was attached to armor, a psychopath named Envy, tattoos of the ouroboros, and the arrays used to make a Philosopher's Stone--and mentions what Dr. Marcoh said about the stone being used in the Ishval Civil War. He finishes his statement that these homunculi creatures told him that they are keeping him alive for their sakes because they were told to. Hughes takes all of Ed's descriptions, promising the Elrics that he'll handle things from here while they rest up.
Winry arrives at the train station and is greeted by Major Armstrong, who escorts her to the hospital. Seeing just how injured Ed is, Winry apologizes profusely for not doing a perfect job in building his arm. But when it becomes apparent that Ed knows nothing of the missing piece and has assumed that his own recklessness was the cause of the malfunction, she coolly allows the matter to be swept under the rug.
Back at Central Command, Colonel Mustang contacts Hughes to know what is happening, but Hughes laughs it off by reminding him of his daughter Elicia's fourth birthday tomorrow, much to Mustang's anguish. Hanging up on Mustang, Hughes explains to Sheska it is best if Mustang still does not know anything.
Later that day, Winry re-visits the Elrics at the hospital. Winry attempts to encourage Ed to drink his milk. Once Al is brought into the conversation, Ed makes a funny joke that Al didn't had to drink anything to get that big--something his brother does not take lightly and Al tells Ed to shut up, reminding him that he never asked to be this big. Ed apologizes, but Winry notices that he and Al have not been talking to each other as of late. Winry becomes angry for all the secrets the boys have been keeping from her despite her concerns and knowing them her whole life. She storms off in a huff, only to encounter Hughes in the hallway. Formally introducing himself, Hughes invites Winry over to his house for Elicia's birthday the following day and tells the Elrics that he will look after Winry for a while, hoping to help her unwind and give the Elrics more time to rest. Winry suddenly remembers it is going to be Ed's birthday as well and Hughes assures her that they will get him a gift while they're out.
The next day, Winry happily observes Elicia's birthday party and sees all the fun as well as the presents Elicia is getting, including the book that Sheska gives to her, though Elicia thanks Sheska by addressing her as the "Bookworm". As Winry bonds with little Elicia, Hughes states they are like sisters while reminding Winry that she has brothers. Winry explains to Hughes that real brothers would tell her things, that she has been close to the Elrics since their early youth, but remains disappointed that they never share their troubles with her. Hughes explains that men like Ed and Al are the type to hold in their problems so as not to burden those close to them, but assures her that when they really do need her assistance and support, they will open up and ask out loud. Before Winry leaves, she is given a fresh birthday cake made for Ed by Gracia.
Heading back to the hospital with the cake, Winry reminisce about the Elrics' past birthday cakes, while Al has Brosh put him outside until Winry fully repairs Ed's arm. While doing the repairs, Winry asks about the tension between him and Al. Ed believes it was due to him almost sacrificing the prisoners to complete the Philosopher's Stone to return Al to normal. Ed admits he only stopped because Al was watching him, something that Winry is thankful for, knowing how Al would have felt. Meanwhile, Al is still conflicted by Barry's words and the homunculi being artificial humans, which makes him question if he was human. Once the repairs on Ed's automail arm is complete, Winry encourages Ed to apologize to Al once more when they head outside to see him.
After Ed apologizes, he transmutes spare parts Winry brought to repair Al's armor. However, Al recalls the instance a few days before back in Resembool when Ed had mentioned that he had something for them to discuss but was too afraid to say it. Al suggests angrily that what Ed had been too frightened to say was that his soul and memories are fake, and that the person named Alphonse Elric had never existed at all. Winry tries to persuade Al that Ed is his beloved brother and have always been together, and that she and her grandmother knew Al since he was a boy and that they're friends. Al refuses to accept this as he states there is no way to prove it and that he is just a hallow shell, believing Ed, Winry and Pinako are in on this together. Al attempts to leave, but Ed restrains him, only for his brother to knock Ed away a few feet to the ground. Winry rushes to help Ed, who pleads with Al to hold on, but to no avail as his brother demands Ed to keep away from him, and jumps off all the way down to the street level. Ed tries to chase after him, but is restrained by Winry and they both watch sadly as Al runs away.
Episode Notes
- This episode is adapted from content in Chapter 13: Fullmetal Body, Chapter 14: An Only Child's Feelings and Chapter 15: Fullmetal Heart.
- The title of the episode for the English dub is "Heart of Steel".
- In reference to the creator of the manga, Hiromu Arakawa, when Winry and Ed fight about Ed not drinking his milk, cows with glasses on are seen in the background, which is the creator's "self-portrait" shown mostly in the manga omakes.
- Although not yet introduced in the series, Izumi Curtis and her husband briefly appear at the train station before Winry sees Major Armstrong.
- Series director Seiji Mizushima stated this episode, along with the previous one, were about "pushing the protagonists to the edge" in order to see their problems in a new light.
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 | |