Episode 45: A Rotted Heart (2003 series)

The confrontation between Hohenheim and the leader of the Homunculi continues, and we finally discover the "truth behind truths." As Al receives a mysterious phone call, Ed proves he will do whatever it takes to stop the Homunculi -- even defile his mother's grave. And back in Central, Mustang decides to challenge the entire military leadership on his own.

Full Synopsis
400 years ago, Hohenheim was nearly killed when he and Dante created a Philosopher's Stone from the souls of plague victims and those accused of witchcraft. Dante saved him by performing her first soul transference and they have been transferring themselves between bodies ever since. Lust realizes this had been Dante's true objective for getting the Stone and Dante states that after Hohenheim left her she needed another alchemist. Hohenheim explains to Dante that the virtual immortality they have achieved by transferring their souls from one body to the next is illusory. In Resembool, while Winry and Sheska argue over their opinions of cooking, Shou Tucker calls which Winry picks up, and he leaves an urgent telephone message for Alphonse, which Al hides from Edward when he returns. Back in Central, the Führer (Pride) and the officers of the military council are questioning Colonel Mustang. After the accusations of the charges against the Elric brothers in the Reole incident is reviewed, and Mustang states the conflict had started because Hakuro's troops had over-enforced their authority on the citizens, Mustang is then questioned about his actions in calling off the search for the Elric brothers. Mustang claims the Elric brothers have gone north into the territory of another country, Drachma. Mustang then deflects further questioning by revealing the involvement of the Führer's secretary (Sloth) in the death of Maes Hughes. The Führer takes the hint, and the questioning ends.

While visiting with his subordinates in the hospital, Mustang admits to them that he now suspects that the Homunculi were responsible for the Ishvalan Civil War to force someone to use the lives of the Ishvalans out of despair to create a Philosopher's Stone. Jean Havoc can back this up by stating that the military had been getting involved in a lot more conflicts since King Bradley took over as Führer. Mustang admits the reason why he can no longer trust the Führer is because of his willingness to sacrifice innocent lives to secretly create the stone. Ed changes his hair color with alchemy, along with his clothes, while Al's armored body is hidden in a fake statue as disguises, and after saying goodbye to Winry and Sheska, the two depart to end the conflict over the Philosopher's Stone. Back at the Dante's hideout, Hohenheim explains their souls are gradually eroding with each transfer and will soon lack the energy needed to maintain a body. Dante refuses to accept the truth, and reveals that while she used the last bit of their old Philosopher's Stone to transfer to Lyra's body, it does not matter because of Scar's actions that have turned Alphonse's body into the stone. Hohenheim is then distracted by Sloth's resemblance to his late wife, Trisha Elric, and is trapped by her. Dante then uses Rosé’s baby as an alchemical key to open the Gate and banish Hohenheim inside it. She then meets with Rosé, which makes it clear she plans to use Rosé as her next host. Dante then frees Lust from her imprisonment and dispatches her to aid Sloth and Wrath in capturing Alphonse to bring the stone to her, promising she will fulfill her promise to turn Lust into a human if she succeeds.

Though their disguises on the train which hide their official records are effective, the Elric brothers are forced to flee when the military search threatens to destroy the statue Al is hiding in. Retreating to a nearby hotel, Ed leaves Al to go do something. At Central Command, Mustang meets with Major Armstrong, where having been recently promoted to Brigadier General and Lt. Colonel, the two are ordered to launch military operations across the border in the north to, nominally at least, capture the Elrics or force Drachma to send them back. However, Mustang reveals the testing of the Führer's reaction was part of his plan to verify what the Elrics said before about the Führer's identity. Since it gave Bradley away and exposed their secret communication with the Elrics, Mustang believes that he will be murdered at the front lines to silence them for learning too much about the truth.

Ed meets Izumi Curtis at Dante’s house who had been in hiding there to learn the secret behind her master and Ed asks her whether there is any part of her child’s corpse remaining, which would give him a weapon to use against Wrath. Al travels to an empty factory where Tucker is waiting for him, and Al asks for his help in learning how to use the Philosopher’s Stone.

Trivia

 * Ed's disguise of a large hat, circular glasses & large overcoat, bears a striking resemblance to the trademark costume of Alucard, protagonist of the Hellsing anime/manga series.