Chapter 16: Separate Paths

Synopsis
The chapter begins with Edward, Alphonse, and Winry on the train to Dublith. When Winry ask the reason for why the Elric brothers want to see their Master, Izumi Curtis, Edward reveals that he wishes to see her for two reasons; one, to get stronger, externally and internally, and two; to ask her about Human Transmutation. However, this is when Edward and Alphonse reveal their fear of their teacher. Winry, to calm the Elric brothers, brings out an apple pie made by Gracia Hughes for the trip. Winry praises Gracia and Elicia, and Edward insults Maes, saying that he is 'an annoying guy'. However, he also says that he's grateful to him and makes a note to thank him when he gets back to Central City, unaware of his death.

Brigadier General Maes Hughes's funeral takes place. His daughter, Elicia Hughes, cries at his funeral, asking them not to bury him or else he couldn't go to work. This evidently creates a multiple reaction, causing the Fuhrer King Bradley's hands to shake, and Major Armstrong to cry.

Later on, it shows Colonel Roy Mustang standing in front of Maes's grave. He says of how Maes promised to be by his side, pushing him to the top, but now he himself was at the top. Riza Hawkeye comes by and joins Mustang, comforting him. Mustang says that he understands how the Elric brothers felt when they wished to transmute their mother. The scene ends when Mustang says, 'It's raining', while he is really crying, and Hawkeye agrees.

Mustang is seen with another military officer at the reference room Hughes was in before his death. The officer says that he seemed to realize something and left quickly, heading for the phone. It also seemed that he was fighting with somebody, as he had left a trail of blood behind him as he was injured. Even though Hughes made it to the phone, he seemed to realize something again and left without calling anyone.

At the scene of the crime, Mustang tries to comprehend why Hughes would call from an outside line when he could call Mustang from an inside line. As Mustang is thinking why there might be trouble in the military, as those were Hughes's last words to his secretary, Hawkeye shows up with Major Armstrong, who tells them that the people who murdered Hughes are being tracked, but he does not know who they are. Mustang demands Armstrong to tell him, but he does not.

As Armstrong leaves, he tells Mustang and Hawkeye of the Elric brothers, and how they were at Central just a few days ago. Mustang asks if they found what they were searching for yet, and Armstrong denies it by saying that what they were looking for was a legendary artifact, after all.

Hawkeye is discouraged at the Major's words and says that they found out nothing after all, but Mustang rebutes that by telling her what the Major was telling him through his words. Armstrong said that "the ones that are thought to have murdered Hughes" as a way of saying that it is more than one person responsible for his death. Refusing to speak when a higher ranking officer (in this case, Colonel Mustang) means that someone from a higher position had silenced him, particularly from the Brass. And finally, the Philosopher's Stone, which is the item the Elric brothers are searching for.

Hawkeye attempts to connect the three pieces of information Armstrong gave them; an organization tied to the Brass, the Philosopher's Stone, and Lieutenant Colonel Hughes, but fails.

Mustang reveals his promotion to Central, and makes a plan to research the Brass and figure out their plan, as well as avenging Hughes. When Hawkeye tells him not to mix up his proffesional and private life, he replies that with saying that there is not "proffesional" and "private" life; his goal for an individual is to become Fuhrer and to avenge Hughes's death. He asks if Hawkeye would follow him still, and she replies him with an affirmative.

Scar is seen in his home country, Ishval, but he is alone. When he calls out for his brother and his Master, another unfamiliar man answers him, who is later known as Kimblee, and who is the State Alchemist who was in charge in annihilating that region.

The scene turns out to be a flashback of some sort, and then we return to Scar fighting against Gluttony. Gluttony manages to injure him, and then Lust shows up also. Scar escapes by deconstructing the wall and floating through the sewers.

He wakes up in an Ishvaran slum on he outskirts of East City, Scar figures out from a child taking care of him and an old man that there are many slums like that one throughout Amestris, with many Ishavaran survivors. Scar questions if his arm is still there, and he gets a positive answer. When the boy sees his arm and the tattoo on it, he asks about it. Scar tells him that it was something very important he got from his family.