Episode 23: Fullmetal Heart (2003 series)

After the explosive finale to Laboratory 5, Ed wakes up in the hospital, finding Al in a corner whose armor is still missing it's arms and legs and Ed promises to fix him. Denny Brosh and Maria Ross ask what happened in Lab 5 and after Ed shrugs it off as no big deal, Ross angrily slaps him for his reckless behavior that nearly took his and Al's lives. Though she apologizes for her misconduct, Ed knows he was partly at fault. Ed quickly calls Winry to have her travel to Central City to fix his automail arm. Winry agrees while trying not to admit her mistake in the arm's maintenance, though her grandmother notices and states to do the maintenance right this time. After spending the night leading his team in surveying Lab 5, Maes Hughes goes to hospital the next day to check on the Elrics. Pretending to be hungry, Hughes has Ross and Brosh go get some food so he can talk with Ed alone. 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 for sacrifice and wants to know what happened, which the Elrics can only reveal about the Homunculus and their plans. Ed draws a few pictures of what he saw and mentions what Marcoh said about the Stone being used in the Ishval Civil War for Hughes who states he'll handle things from here while they rest up.

Winry arrives at the train station and after being greeted by Major Armstrong he escorts her to the hospital. Surprised by this, Winry tries to admit her mistake, Ed acts as though he was too rough with his automail arm which she reluctantly accepts. Back at Central Command, though Roy Mustang contacts Hughes to know what is happening, Hughes laughs it off by reminding him of his daughter Elica's fourth birthday tomorrow, and then explains to Sheska it is better to keep it quiet for now. Later that day while trying to encourage Ed to drink his milk, Winry quickly notices that he and Al are not talking to each other. Winry quickly becomes angry for all the secrets they've been keeping from her despite her concerns and leaves. Meeting with Maes Hughes who formally introduces himself and takes her to his house for Elica's birthday hoping to help her unwind and give the Elrics more time to rest. Winry happily observes the birthday party and sees all the fun as well as the presents Elica is getting including the book that Sheska gives to her, though she thanks her by addressing Sheska as "Bookworm". As Winry bonds with Elica, after stating that they are like siblings, Hughes mentions that while the Elric brothers do keep secrets from her it is only because they are not to raise any concerns though they still count on her for support. Before leaving, Gracia gives Winry a birthday cake for Ed.

Bringing the cake back, Ed and Winry reminisce about the Elrics' past birthday cakes, while Al wants to be put outside till the repairs on Ed's arm are complete which Brosh does for him. While doing the repairs, Winry asks about the tension between him and Al, and 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 the words of Barry the Chopper and the Homunculus 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. After Ed apologizes, he transmutes spare parts Winry brought to repair Al's armor. However, Al who is upset by the concept of his soul and memories to have possibly been fake brings up the information Ed was hesitant to mention back in Resembool, which Ed surprises that this was disturbing Al. Believing himself to be artificially created, Al ignores Ed and Winry's words and runs away from the hospital as Ed sadly watches him go.

Episode Notes

 * 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's omake.