Episode 25: Words of Farewell (2003 series)

While asleep, Maes Hughes recalls when he met Roy Mustang who was bitter and was willing to go as far as Human Transmutation for what he did during the Ishval Civil War when Hughes is woken up by Sheska to inform him that Führer King Bradley has arrived regarding the Laboratory 5 incident. Making it clear that the conspiracy is greater than expected due to the disappearance of the Lab 5 staff, and the recent mercenary attack on the Ishvalan refugees, Hughes gets Bradley's permission to continue the investigation. Hughes also asks for Tim Marcoh to be brought to Central for further questioning which the Führer has Juliet Douglas do, as only she knows his whereabouts. While explaining the current findings to Ed at the hospital, Ed reveals that he had given up on the Philosopher's Stone. Ed decides to seek an alternative method by asking their teacher who lives south of Central in Dublith. Winry wishes to travel along since the town filled with automail mechanics Rush Valley is on the way. After Major Armstrong agrees with Hughes that the Elrics are doing this to protect them as well, the Elrics and Winry on their train wave goodbye to their friends.

Winry soon learns that Elrics are not heading to Dublith knowing what their teacher would do to them for finding out that Ed became a State Alchemist and for performing Human Transmutation. Instead Ed decides that after Rush Valley they'll head to the Ishvalan camp to the south where Scar's group is headed, believing that Scar is hiding something from them, and he still wishes to catch Scar due to his murderous rampage. Scar recalls his encounter with a State Alchemist when Rick reveals he has a visitor who is his master that survived the war despite Scar's earlier beliefs. As a biker gang attacks the camp, Scar's Master reveals he has heard what happened to him and warns him about revenge. Scar leaves his tent and kills a few bikers before the others retreat and his master recognizes the Tattoo arm as once belonging to Scar's brother. Back at Eastern Command, Mustang is talking to Hughes over the phone, who demands to know why the Elrics were hospitalized, but Hughes dodges the question by stating Mustang's transfer to Central Command is going to happen. After hanging up, Mustang orders Riza Hawkeye to book a train to Central so he can find out what's going on.

After talking it out with Gracia, Hughes returns to the office and has Sheska help him with analyzing the Ishval War, along with the Reole, Xenotime, and Lab 5 incidents. As Hughes jumbles with what he learned from Ed about what the Homunculus told him, Hughes recalls something important about the Ishval War after Douglas called to inform him Marcoh had arrived in Central. Realizing what is important, Hughes goes to meet her but not before firing Sheska as he is leaving. Hughes reveals to Douglas about the mystery of how despite her name being the same as the soldier that killed the Ishvalan child that started the war, though the real Douglas died two years ago, the same name was never withdrawn from the military personal records. Knowing Marcoh isn't in the hotel room, Hughes is attacked from behind by Lust. Despite taking an arm injury, he uses a push knife thrown at her face, just as Maria Ross - Envy in disguise - arrives to bail Hughes out.

Running, as he realizes this corruption rises as far as the Führer, Hughes becomes suspicious of Ross as he tries to contact Mustang on the phone. Learning from Vato Falman that Mustang had left, Hughes reveals he knows this Ross is a fake due to no mole underneath the right eye, and Hughes slashes her across the throat with his knife. Envy then assumes Gracia's form which distracts Hughes long enough for Envy to shoot him in the liver before walking away. As he falls down dying, Hughes remembers that day when Mustang told him that he was going to become the Führer to change the country which he would willingly support. The next day, a military funeral is held for Hughes, with Elica too young to understand it's importance. As Mustang remember his previous attempt at Human Transmutation and that Hughes kept secrets from him about the Elrics' recent activities, Hawkeye reminds him this is due to Hughes' dream of helping him. On the train, unaware of what happened, the Elrics and Winry talk about Hughes, though Ed thought he could had just seen Hughes' ghost.

Episode Notes

 * The motorcycle riding thugs that Scar kills in this episode directly contradict the manga's canon by saying, "Aren't you Ishvalans supposed to be living in designated camps?" The manga states that most Amestrians aren't even aware that any Ishvalans are still alive. The slums in which they live are secretive, not designated by the government, which is what is implied here.