Don’t take any lives. That’s all I asked you, Bald… And as it turns out, you did exactly as you were told.
BBald
So I take it you’re Mustang. HAAAAA!
I controlled myself. The damage to your skin isn’t nearly as bad as it feels. You can call me Roy Mustang, or just Lieutenant Colonel. Hell, you can call me the Flame Alchemist. Whatever you do, remember the pain.
AlphonseBrother…!
Hey! You knew! That’s why you made us take this train! You put us at risk on purpose!
Come on, you think I have the whole world on strings? But… the General heard about your exploits, saving the train; he’s letting you take the State Alchemy exam.
But you always said we could take it! That’s the reason we came!
Come on, Ed, the State’s never let a kid take a military exam before. But, I guess lucks on your side, good thing you took that earlier train, huh? Whether you decide to take the test is still up to you, I’m not trying to run your life.
Of course I’ll take it! And pass! I would have done it anyway!
Alphonse
Those people had us playing right at the palms of their hands, didn’t they? I guess it doesn’t matter what we do. We’ll never be the ones in control.
So, boys, you’re really convinced you’re ready for this?
That’s right; just tell me what to wear to graduation…
Careful, Ed. I’d hate for you to get cocky, as you know, you find your own training, and I suggest him.
Sowinglife alchemist, huh?
Shou Tucker, practically wrote the book on bringing things to life…
Alphonse
[Voice over] That’s how it started; we spent the months, before the exam, living at the Tucker Estate.
NNina
Oh a letter! Who are you writing to?
Eh! Ah! A person it doesn’t matter!
Alphonse
Oh! It’s to Winry, isn’t it?
Hey! It’s just a simple report! Just passed the alchemy exam! How’s the weather, that whole thing, ok?
NNina
Winry’s a pretty name! Is she your girlfriend?
Alphonse
As a matter of fact…!
AAAHH! She’s not! She’s not! She’s not! She’s not! We’re friends!
NNina
I know I’m going to write a letter to my mommy too!
Alphonse
So your mom lives far away, doesn’t she Nina?
NNina
That’s right! She told my dad, ‘He was a good for nothing alchemist, who couldn’t do anything right. Hopefully, she’ll send a reply this time…
When was the first time you made one of these...human-speaking chimeras?
I thought I told you. It's been two years now.
And when exactly did your wife leave you?
And those letters...that Nina wrote...did any of them ever reach her?
What are you...getting at?
Tell me this... Where have Alexander and Nina gone to?!
[Sighs] I hate prodigies like you Ed. Too damn perceptive.
[Edward throws Tucker against a wall.]
Alphonse
[Surprised] Brother!
This guy used his own wife, Al!
Alphonse
A-and this time?
HIS DAUGHTER!....and his dog! He transmuted them into that...THING! An easy process when you use people, right?!
Why are you getting so upset, Edward? It's the nature of scientific progress: animal testing, experimentation, trial and error! All advancements have -- a price.
SHUT UP! I'm not gonna let you rationalize this, you monster! That was your own family, damn it! You've been toying with people's LIVES!
Toying with lives? What?! Like your arm and leg there? Or your brother's body? Or trying to bring your mother back? That's toying, isn't it? You don't really think you are any different from me, do you, Ed? [Edward punches Tucker, sending him to the ground. Tucker chuckles. Edward prepares to punch him again but is stopped by Alphonse.]
Alphonse
Why, Mr. Tucker? The whole point was to pass the assessment and continue your way of life. But now your family's gone. What life is left?!
That's the funny thing, I didn't have a reason. I fully understood, no matter what I did, my life would be ruined. I could either do it with the science, or without. And so I chose science, to see if I could.
When you have the power to do something, it's hard not to try. Isn't that what we agreed on, Ed? Aren't we so much alike?
Sure...part of me did it for respect and this house. Just as you partly did it for your mother. But there's more. You're desperate to put your mind to use, Ed. To see what you're capable of, to put the world under your fingers...that's the essence of alchemy. You did it for knowledge...control. Above all, you did it just to prove you can. [Edward punches Tucker again]
You're wrong. Alchemy isn't meant to be... I'm not like you! [Edward repeatedly punches Tucker.] I'M NOT! NOT! I'M NOT!
Alphonse
Brother, you'll kill him!
DDriver
Edward Elric? Yeah, I heard of him!
So what do you know about the guy?
DDriver
Well they say is that even though he’s one of those state alchemist guys he’s still a friend of the common man.
Wow, he must be a man of great stature then, huh?
DDriver
Actually I’ve heard he’s surprisingly short, like a dwarf or something!
WHO ARE YOU CALLING A DWARF?!?
Alphonse
Eh? Stop that brother!
COME BACK HERE AND SAY THAT TO MY FACE!!!
Alphonse
If you keep scaring away cab drivers, we'll never reach Liore!
AHHH! Come on hurry up! EEEPP! (Rushes in store) I’ll take the chrome steel spanner set. (Grabs a wrench) This hydraulic cork wrench! (Points at glass) And can I take a look at that micrometer please!?
Oh! And please throw in whichever ultra hard tipped drill that you think is the best!
It’s everything I dreamed it would be! Central sure puts our small town selection to shame! Oh! And I just can’t get over how good this walnut handle on this screwdriver feels on my skin!
Alphonse
Are you almost done in there, Winry?
Alphonse
Don’t you think you have enough souvenirs for one trip?
WHAT?! But you said you’d buy me anything I wanted today! Isn’t that right, Ed?
Ed, I love these high carbon chrome steel cutting sheers, they’ll cut through anything and never rust! Can I have these too?
(To clerk) Sir? Could you add this sowing machine oil to my tab?
Here… (To Ed) This is for you… Without me around you’ll have to take care of your own auto-mail.
SSoldier
Mr. Elric. Mustang wants to see you.
There’s a mission for me?
Yeah, now that you’re a real state alchemist you have to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. It’s our life… Second lieutenant, Hawkeye?
RRiza
Yes, sir. (Walks to Ed and hands him some papers) Here are your orders and case file.
(reads aloud) Fullmetal alchemist, Edward Elric, you are hereby ordered to inspect the coal mine at Yusewell… (Turns to Roy) Is this kind of thing really a job for a state alchemist?
RRiza
It entails inspecting the mine resources, as an alchemist you do have knowledge of minerals, don’t you?
Seeing as it’s your first mission I’ve decided to keep the training wheels on, but that won’t mean that you can take it easy…
Discard two. Geez, more junk.
Alphonse
Hmm…
Alphonse
Sorry! I’ll take two as well, holy, hey, uh, brother. Want to double the bet?
Alphonse
Heh, sorry, I’ve got a full house.
I’m sorry, too: royal flush.
Alphonse
No way! I thought for sure I’d win for once. All right, this time I’m going to-
Alphonse
Bored? Bored of what? Winning? You haven’t lost yet! Why don’t you lose on purpose for a while?
It’s not about the cards, Al. It’s who we got to see: Mustang.
Alphonse
You don’t want to meet with him?
Of course I don’t, Al! Our best lead on the stone turned out to be a fake! All this searching and we’ve got nothing to show for it!
Alphonse
But we’ve done lots of good.
Good? Good goes on a military report, and a sidebar for collateral damage. I can see his face, his sarcastic little quips, just thinking about it, makes me completely nauseous.
Alphonse
Are you sure it's OK to stop? We were supposed to go straight to East City.
It's right on the way. Maybe we can find something about the Philosopher’s Stone and avoid a lecture. Besides Aquroya's a tourist hot spot. I've always wanted to check it out…
Alphonse
Feels kind of like we're playing hooky. Don't you think?
STOP BEING SO-! Eh? (cards fell out of Ed's left sleeve, specifically zooming in on three Ace of Spades
Alphonse
Hmm? What do we have here? What an oddly good hand of cards! (Ed runs away) UHHH! ED! YOU CHEATER! COME BACK I WANT EVERYTHING YOU WON FROM ME AND I THOUGHT I WAS JUST UNLUCKY!
Alphonse
It is a beautiful city, isn't it?
I'll say. Aquroya: The City of Water, and primal tourist magnet. It sure beats that East City dust-bowl and having to see the Colonel's know-it-all grin, don't you think!? (A car comes by and gets Ed wet) WHAT THE HELL'S YOUR PROBLEM PAL!?
Alphonse
Heheh, well, it is the city of water.
Grr… (Claps his hands together and makes an alchemic light, looks up to see his hand had been handcuffed.) Hey, shouldn't we talk first? Gah…!
CChief
You're coming' to the station. I've got some questions for you, Alchemist…
CChief
So, you’re telling me you’re with the state, and that you’re the famous Fullmetal, hero of the people?
(Through full mouth of food) How many times do I have to say it chief, that watch should be proof enough!
CChief
Sure, if it’s real, but I have my doubts, I’d say you’re too short for a hero.
Who are you calling so small?! You want to crunch like an ant!?
Alphonse
Brother, please, he didn’t say anything like that.
CChief
Sorry for the third-degree, kid, had to test you. We’ve got a thief on our backs named Psiren, and we’re all a little on edge.
Alphonse
Psiren?
CChief
Yeah, real name’s unknown; the only lead we’ve got is she uses alchemy, so I thought you just might be connected. Hmm… But you say you’re with the state, and the Fullmetal Alchemist, no less.
Damn that guy! He kept saying the same thing for three hours straight! He probably wears that hat to hide the hole in his brain.
Alphonse
Still, doesn’t it concern you, a criminal using alchemy to steal?
Alphonse
Hmm? Bother, you don’t look so good.
DDoctor
Well, it looks like a little bit of food poisoning, that’s all.
Alphonse
It’s not from eating too much?
DDoctor
We’ll need to give you an injection. Clara?
DDoctor
Yeah, just a poke.
(running like a bat out of Hell) NO! GET AWAY FROM ME! I DON’T NEED IT! (Alphonse grabs him)
Alphonse
It’s just a little needle. You’ll be fine.
I FEEL BETTER! I'M CURED!
Alphonse
Don’t be a baby! Take off your coat!
I HATE YOU, AL! WHY DO YOU WANT TO SELL OUT YOUR OWN BROTHER?! YOU’RE EVIL!
Alphonse
You don’t mean that!
I’LL TURN YOU ALL INTO FISH! (Clara puts a finger to his lips) Uh?!
CClara
There. You’re all done, Ed. That didn’t hurt at all, did it?
Alphonse
Fast work. You didn’t even notice.
CClara
And after all that fuss.
Yeah, so what’s your point?
CClara
We all have to grow up some time, right?
So, is the rude commentary included in the bill?
Alphonse
She was so good at her job, smart, and gorgeous too. I can’t stop thinking about her.
You’ve got the weirdest taste in women, Al; she was a bad gift in pretty wrapping.
BGBasque Grand
The Sage's Stone, the Celestial Stone, the Great Elixir, the Red Teacher, the next element; did you really think a substance of so many names would be just limited to a stone?
Brigadier Basque? Well, you really wormed your way up.
BGBasque Grand
You're damn right, Crystal Alchemist, and now you'll turn the Philosopher's Stone and all your research over to me.
The Philosopher's Stone? That thing?
BGBasque Grand
An expiremental leap at best, a roulette at worst. You never know when it's going to reach its limit and backfire. an unstable defected product different from the true stone but during the rebellion, it did augment our abilities and make us tremendously powerful
Alphonse
You're saying the military not only searched for the stone, but in the past, has worked to develope it.
Nevermind that it isnt perfect. It was made by human hands and it works. That proves that the concept is possible the Philospher's Stone isn't a myth. Where are the design specs?
BGBasque Grand
And what do you intend to do with it when you see it increase your metaling, Fullmetal? This research is top secret and falls under my jurisdiction. I can't permit you access to it. Let's go.
No! Let go of me! Please, I'm sorry I ran! Have mercy! You can't take me back. I can't go back to that place, it's too much i can't take it! The testing, the experiments, my hands are already stained please!
It's just like before (flash back to nina and tucker driving off in the military cars). Maybe I haven't grown an inch since then. But I can't let my heart stay stunted too.
Brigadier general Basque Grand iv been looking for you.
BGBasque Grand
You're timings too bad just when I got my hand on this.
Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric. You won't escape either.
He knows my name too? What the heck's going on here? What have I done to make enemies? Okay, bad question but not bad enough to kill me over.
I heard you on my way in here. You say you're an agent of God. Well... then why don't you try passing judgment on me? That's Alex Louis Armstrong, the StrongArm Alchemist!
What a righteous day this is turning into! That you would come here and save me the tribulations of finding you! Blessed God, full of grace...
Don't pray just yet, you're facing the technique that's been passed down the Armstrong line for generations, that's hardly a blessing!
A unique combination of Alchemy and physical power... God help me
Fullmetal Alchemist · 336 quotes
