Alphonse quotes from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Alphonse

Alchemy is based on the Law of Equivalent Exchange... The price of even a failed human transmutation was enormous... It cost my brother his left leg... and it cost me my whole body... Do you see it...? My brother drew that with his own blood. His leg had been taken. He was bleeding. I can't imagine the pain he was in... But through all that, he still gave up his right arm to transmute my soul, and bonded me to this suit of armor. Now, I just want to help him get his body back to the way it was. He wants to find a way to get me back to normal, too. It won't be easy. We might even get killed along the way... But that's the path we chose... All we can do is keep moving.

Alphonse

Brother... I've met other people who weren't exactly human... but they still managed to live their lives with a purpose. And even in this body... It hasn't stopped other people from treating me like I'm still human. This body could reject me anytime... But it's the same with being human. You never know when you might get sick or die in an accident. So I can still get by like this... I can live a somewhat normal life... And that's how I've managed to keep going... But now... I can't take it anymore. Because... I can't... I can't take all the nights by myself! It's too lonely... And that's why I have to get back to normal.

So, it's not you? [points to Edward's brother]

Oh... um... no. I'm his younger brother, Alphonse.

But he's a runt!

Edward

[becomes angry at his stature being mentioned] OH YEAH, CAN A RUNT DO THIS?!

I've heard the stories but still I'd never imagine this; the Fullmetal Alchemist is just a little kid!

Edward

[now absolutely livid] Grr...! DON'T CALL ME LITTLE!

Alphonse

You know brother, I don't think he was really talking about your height just now.

Edward

[freezes up, then angry still] WELL EVEN IF HE WASN'T, HE STILL PISSED ME OFF!

Oh, say! Looks like my timing was perfect! You two are the Elric brothers, right? [runs up to Alphonse and shakes his hand vigorously] Oh, wow, it's an honor to finally meet the youngest State Alchemist ever! You're a real legend around here! I'm Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes, a pleasure!

Alphonse

Um, you want Edward. I'm actually his younger brother, Alphonse.

[turns to Edward in surprise] What, you're the Fullmetal Alchemist?! Sorry, I had no idea you'd be so...

Go on, say 'little.' I dare you.

Hi, princess. [nuzzles his beard on Elicia's face]

Ow! Daddy, your beard is itchy!

My beard? Like this? Itchy? Itchy! [nuzzles his beard on Elicia again] Look, we have guests. These are the Elric brothers!

[pointing at Alphonse]: Big brother... [pointing at Edward]: ...little brother.

Edward

[suppresses his anger at being called "little"] Nice to meet you... My name is Edward Elric... this is my younger brother, Alphonse Elric... get that? Youn-ger brot-her...

But "younger" means little. You're little.

Edward

Grrrr...! [is now shown being held back by Alphonse as they enter the Hughes residence] WHERE DO YA GET OFF CALLING ME LITTLE?! YOU LOOKED IN A MIRROR LATELY?! I'M TALLER THAN YOU ARE!

Alphonse

Just let it go, Ed. These people are being nice to let us stay here.

Alphonse

Brother.

Edward

Hmm?

Alphonse

The stories about this priest in Liore, do you think they’re true?

Edward

The ones about his miracles? They say he can transmute flowers out of thin air, right? Could be slight of hand, some cheap trick like that.

Alphonse

But... what if they’re not?

Edward

Right... if it's not then I suppose all that leaves is the real thing, huh?

Ed? Al? Where are you? [She finds them scrawling a Transmutation Circle on the floor.] Oh, you boys... Are you in here messing up your dad’s study again? And Ed, you know better than to scribble on the floor.

Young Edward

Yea, but it's not scribbling. Here watch. [light flashes]

[eyes widen] Oh my. That's alchemy isn't it.

Did your dad teach you that?

Young Edward

How can he teach us anything if he's not here?

Young Alphonse

Right. We read about it in these books.

I can't believe you've done this.

Young Edward

I'm sorry. Did we mess up?

[claps her hands] No! It's great! You definitely take after your father. My little geniuses, you make me so proud.

Edward

So that’s it, huh? What do you think?

Alphonse

There’s nothing to think, that’s Alchemy. No doubt about it.

Edward

But somehow he’s ignoring the law of equivalent exchange. He should’ve only been able to transmute that flower into an object of equal mass.

Alphonse

And he’s changing organic matter into inorganic matter. He shouldn’t be able to do that. Unless…

Edward

Yeah, there’s just one way… Bingo.

Oh, merciful God, please hear me, hear my prayer, I beg of you. Please bring him back.

Edward

So this is the almighty Leto…?

Welcome, are you interested in Letoism?

Edward

Nope, can’t say I am. Not really the religious type.

Well, I’m sorry to hear that… To know God is to know hope… If we believe in divine grace, and through him all things are possible… If you believe… I’m sure Leto would bless you and make you grow taller!

What’s that supposed to mean?!

Alphonse

Easy, brother! She’s just trying to help!

Edward

What about bringing the dead back to life? Do you believe that’s possible too?

Yes.

Edward

[pulls out a notebook and opens it] Water: 35 Liters, carbon: 20 kilograms, ammonia: 4 Liters, lime: 1.5 kilograms, phosphorus: 800 grams, salt: 250 grams, saltpeter: 100 grams, and various other trace elements...

...huh?

Edward

That list represents the complete chemical makeup of a human body for the average adult. It's been calculated to the last microgram, but still there has never been one reported case of successfully creating a human life. And you're telling me something modern science can't do, you can do with prayer?

Lift thy voice to God! And the prayers of the faithful shall be answered!

Edward

Did I mention all those ingredients I read off? Down at the market, a kid could buy every one of them for the spare change in his pocket. As it turns out, humans are pretty cheap.

No, that's blasphemy...! People are-! We're all children of God... created in his image!

Edward

Heh. You have to understand, alchemists are scientists... We don't believe in unprovable concepts like creators or gods... We observe the physical laws that govern this world to try to learn the truth. It's ironic, really. That through the application of science, we have in many ways been given the power to play gods ourselves...

So you're putting yourself on the same level as God? That's just... sheer arrogance!

Edward

You know, there's an old myth, about a hero who flew on wings made of wax... He thought he could touch the sun, but when he got too close, his wings melted, and he came crashing back down to earth... Right Al?

Alphonse

Brother...

Your arm. A brother trapped in armor! I see. It's all becoming clear now. You did it, didn't you? The one thing even the most novice alchemist knows is strictly forbidden!

Edward

Why don't you come down here and try me? I'll show you real quick who the novice is!

Cornello

Rosé... this is the price of their sin... These fools attempted human transmutation: the greatest taboo for any alchemist! In their arrogance, they tried to bring someone dead back to life!

Oh no...

Edward

This is what happens when you try to play "God", or whatever you want to call it... Take a good look, Rose. Is this what you want?

Cornello

So this is the great Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric... Not even half a man...! Hell, not even half a boy!

Edward

And what're you?! You're just a phony that can't do anything without a Philosopher's Stone!

Alphonse

Father, we just want you to hand over the Stone before you get hurt.

Cornello

Don't be absurd! Why, so you can use it for yourself?! Please... [uses his Philosopher's Stone to turn his cane into a Gatling Gun] If you fools are really so eager to play God, then perhaps I should send you to meet him instead!

Edward

Nah, me and God... we don't get along too well. Even if I went... he'd probably just send me right back here.

Edward

Who knows, maybe we'll find something that could help us restore our bodies.

It might help if you consulted a specialist.

Huh?

The Sewing Life Alchemist, Shou Tucker. He's done some heavy research into Chimera transmutation. I'll introduce you.

This is my library. Feel free to look around.

Edward

Alright! Let's dive in! I'll start with this shelf.

Alphonse

I'll try starting over here.

I'm going to head back to work now. I'll send somebody by to get you this evening. [He blows air out of his nose and smirks]

They've got some ability to focus. I'm not sure they even know we're here anymore. [He adjusts his glasses] Quite a catch, these two. A couple of prodigies.

Alphonse

Your mother left two years ago?

Nina

Daddy said she went back to live at her parent's house.

Alphonse

It must get a kind of lonely just you and your Dad living in this big house, huh?

Nina

[Shakes her head] Not really. Daddy's so nice, and plus I've got Alexander to play with, too! But lately Daddy's been studying in his lab all the time. I guess that does make me a little bit lonely.

Before I earned my State Alchemist certification, our life was terrible. We were so poor in those days. My wife couldn't stand living that kind of life, so she left us. [He sighs.] I can't afford to fail this assessment. I don't want to go back to those days again. I don't even think I could.

Nina

Don't worry, Daddy! It's OK! If those people do tell you no, me and Alexander will growl at them until they say yes!

Alphonse

[He chuckles] You tell them, Nina.

Hey, Nina. I've got an idea... do you want to play with Daddy tomorrow?

Nina

Really?!

Yeah.

Nina

[Nina jumps onto Tucker] Woo-hoo! Alexander! Daddy says he's going to play with us tomorrow! [Alexander barks.]

Edward

I've been thinking about this for a long time. We put all our trust in alchemy but in the end... what is it? "Alchemy is the science of understanding the flow of matter and its laws... The process of comprehension, deconstruction, and reconstruction. The world flows too. It must also follow laws. Everything circulates... Even death is a part of that circulation. You must accept the flow." Hmm, Teacher sure drummed that into our heads, didn't she? I thought I understood it... but I don't understand anything... Mom proves that. Now here I am again, trying desperately to figure out a way to do the impossible... I'm such a hopeless idiot... All this time and I haven't grown up one bit. I thought maybe the rain would wash away some of this gloom that's been following me... but right now every drop that hits my face is even more depressing.

Alphonse

I don't even get that much... without a body, I can't feel the rain hitting my face. That's something I miss...all the time. I wanna get my body back soon, Brother. I just wanna be human again. Even if it means going against the flow of the world, and trying to do the impossible.