Edward Elric

Edward Elric (エドワード・エルリック, Edowādo Erurikku), the Fullmetal Alchemist (鋼の錬金術師, Hagane no Renkinjutsushi), is the main protagonist and titular character of the series. After losing his right arm and left leg due to a failed Human Transmutation attempt, Ed became the youngest State Alchemist in history by achieving his certification at age twelve. Three years later, Ed has become fully engrossed in his search for the legendary Philosopher's Stone, an item with which he hopes to restore his younger brother Alphonse - whose whole body had been lost in the aftermath of that tragic experiment.

Appearance
Edward is small for his age, standing at only 149 cm (4'11") at the beginning of the series despite his attempts to appear taller. He wears his golden-blond hair long - usually tied in a braid that hangs down to his shoulders, but sometimes forgoing the braid for a simpler ponytail. He parts his bangs in the middle so that they frame his face on either side as they fall and, in the center of the parting, he leaves a single strand of hair sticking up like an antenna. In Chapter 56, it is revealed that he does this intentionally, presumably to add to his height. Ed's eyes, too, are gold colored signifying his Xerxesian ancestry.

Early on in the manga, Ed receives a thin, horizontal battle scar just above his right eye which remains because his subsequent battles cause the sensitive skin to tear open repeatedly. As of Chapter 76, however, the scar appears to have healed over completely. As the series progresses, some of Edward's facial features (his nose and chin) begin to take on characteristics similar to his father's. At the end of the series, Edward is shown to have grown noticeably taller, being several inches taller than Winry.

Near the end of the 2003 anime series, it is revealed that the Earth has its own version of Edward Elric, who is identical to that of the storyline save for having his hair and bangs cut short.

Automail
As a result of his alchemical dismemberment, Edward was fitted with full steel automail prosthetics custom crafted by Winry and Pinako Rockbell. His left leg from just above the knee downward is automail and his automail right arm reaches all the way up to his shoulder; both are designed so that their outer shells resemble modernized plate mail.

In the manga and 2009 anime series, after Edward travels to the northern area, he is refitted with new, cold-climate type automail limbs. Designed to be rich in carbon to prevent frost damage and lighter to help Edward's movement, they are both significantly thinner than his previous models and even appear more lustrous, with a more prominent silver tint than the old steel versions. At the end of the series, Edward keeps his automail leg and the scars from the installation of his arm remain indefinitely on his right shoulder.

In Conqueror of Shamballa, Edward is fitted with a gas-powered automail arm by Hohenheim for use on Earth, where automail does not exist. It is coated with a thin, skin-colored film so as to blend in with the rest of his body, but when the gas motor is activated - allowing Ed greater power and motion with his arm - the heat from the exhaust melts the coating, revealing the mechanical plating underneath.

Clothes
Ed wears as his trademark a bright red, long-sleeved, hooded cloak whose tail comes down to his upper calves. Emblazoned in black on the back is a Flamel, signifying his tutelage under the master alchemist Izumi Curtis. It is likely that Edward fashioned this cloak for himself, as he needs to repair it often and, in Chapter 85, transmuted one from scratch using a roll of red cloth. During the Elric Brothers' trip to the northern area, Ed's cloak was modified somewhat with a white fur trim around the hood to accommodate comfortable passage through cold conditions.

Though Ed's clothes vary over the course of the series, he seems particularly partial to black and will nearly always dress in black trousers and some sort of black shirt under his coat. In his usual outfit, Ed primarily wears a sleeveless black shirt with a black jacket that has silver/white lining along the edges. This is his main outfit, and over the course of the manga and 2003 anime the jacket undergoes multiple changes. This is seen at the beginning of the manga and 2003 anime where the jacket is longer and is tucked into his belt. However, when he first leaves Resembool, it hangs over his belt and has a zipper on top. The most common version, however, is the jacket being connected at the top with a button, and falling slightly short of waist-length, making it possible to see his black shirt. He also wears a wide brown leather belt to which he keeps his silver State Alchemist pocketwatch affixed. In the 2003 anime, this belt is instead changed to two thin belts worn parallel to each other.

As part of his attempts to seem taller, Edward is rarely seen without his elevator shoes - black leather boots with thick, red soles. Additionally, he frequently wears white gloves when in public to conceal the fact that his right arm is artificial.

It is likely that his general outfit is meant to convey a red, black and white motif, as these three colors (as well as the gold color of his hair and eyes) are considered significant in traditional alchemy.

Personality
On the surface, Edward displays an immature sort of personality. He is decidedly stubborn and strong-willed, frequently letting his pettiness and vindictiveness get the better of him (it is this stubbornness that contributes to Führer Bradley's decision to codename him "Fullmetal", as "Hagane" is a term in Japanese that denotes someone of obstinate disposition); he is somewhat selfish and remarkably self-absorbed, generally acting more out of self-interest than any sort of philanthropy as well as taking several opportunities to stroke his own ego or flaunt the governmental power and monetary license of his military position. He is largely hostile towards figures of authority and feels little incentive to follow orders with which he disagrees, earning him the distinction of being a loose cannon of sorts. Edward is also rather quick-tempered, resorting more often to steel-fisted violence than calm negotiation to settle disputes (even going so far as to suggest that refraining from hitting Paninya because of her gender is a sexist notion and, therefore, against his principles). He has a reputation for being foul-mouthed and is an incurably sarcastic cynic, only too happy to bluntly and harshly relieve others of their comfortable delusions regarding god, reality, or their own self-importance. Edward has also displayed a propensity towards impatience and an inability to sit still for long, which perhaps contributes to his love of travel.

However, for those few people who have made an impact on him, Ed shows his deeper nature to be one of marked selflessness, unflinching loyalty and great compassion. As someone who has had to suffer greatly at such a young age, Edward cannot ignore the true suffering of others and becomes sympathetic upon sensing pain and resolve in people's hearts. Though his solemn advice to such people is often tempered with brusque criticism, it is only because he genuinely wishes to place them on the most direct path forward. As one who has to struggle with a maimed body, he urges those with healthy bodies to use their strong legs to move forward, and as one burdened by the mistakes of his past, he stresses the necessity of people taking responsibility for their own errs. Though he will intervene on behalf of the oppressed if he concludes that a situation has called for it, Ed tends to help only those with the will - but not the means - to help themselves, in which case his recklessness and disdain for authority often has him bending the rules to dole out a Robin Hood-esque justice in accordance with his strong belief in the concept of Equivalent Exchange, earning him notoriety and popularity as a "hero of the people".

Of course, the most noticeable of Edward's dispositional characteristics is his Napoleonic denial of his shortness. Even in moments of relative composure, any and all references to his stature cause him to violently lose control of his emotions and lash out both verbally and physically. Distinctive to these outbursts is Ed's tendency to take even the most casual mention of his height as a gross insult and interpret it exaggeratedly, mistaking words as simple as "small" for phrases as contrived as "so-tiny-that-he-need-not-fear-being-crushed-by-a-boot-because-he-fits-so-easily-between-the-grooves-of-the-sole" and the like. Those unfortunate to utter the word "small" in his presence are fated to suffer one of his vindictive tantrums.

Though Edward proudly professes that he does not believe in gods, his spiritual sensibilities tend more toward the agnostic than the atheistic; in private, though he does not pray, he frequently acknowledges the existence of a god in his speech, if only to justify why it is that his life has been so difficult.

Ed's aesthetic sensibilities are also quite twisted in that he is a great fan of gothic or macabre fixtures and will usually transmute decorations filled with monstrous or demonic imagery and unnecessarily gaudy details, much to the dismay of anyone who receives a gift or service from him. He has also made it known that his trademark red coat is part of this general lack of taste, as it is "a badass color [that] gets the blood going".

Relationships
Alphonse - Edward's relationship with his younger brother is easily the strongest and most significant of his personal connections. Though the Elric brothers have wildly different personalities and argue often about the best way to go about things, they are close enough that each would readily and willingly give his life for the other. As it is, Edward willingly sacrificed his right arm as material for a Soul Binding Transmutation after Alphonse's whole body was taken into The Gate as part of the payment for the attempted resurrection of their mother. Edward managed to call his brother's soul back from the void and affix it alchemically to a suit of armor, but remains wracked with the guilt of having both initiated the experiment that caused the accident and damning his brother to a cold existence inside an artificial body incapable of physical sensation. Despite his own physical hardships with his automail limbs, Edward appears to care relatively little about returning his body to its original state and is entirely focused on restoring Al as soon as possible.

Winry - Ed's relationship with Winry Rockbell is likely one of his more complex personal connections. Born to the kind family that lived next door to the Elrics, Winry grew up alongside Ed and Al and means as much to them both as would a sister; she and Ed are more than childhood friends, they are a family. As such, however, Edward argues with Winry even more than he does with Al, their similarly stubborn personalities keeping them at odds with one another despite their powerful bond. After the terrible accident that claimed Ed's arm and leg, Winry took on the role of his personal automail mechanic, building him sophisticated new limbs at the tender age of eleven. Since then, Winry has served as Ed's constant well of support, both mechanically and emotionally, though they still find themselves arguing frequently. However, this affectionate hostility appears to be masking a deeper relationship. Though Edward has not outwardly admitted any romantic feelings toward Winry, he is rather overprotective of her and becomes unnaturally flustered at the mere suggestion of an amatory relationship between them. Winry, for her part, has admitted to herself that she fell in love with Edward long ago. In the end, they managed to reveal their feelings toward each other and it appears they have married and had children in the future.

Roy Mustang - Officially, Colonel Roy Mustang is Edward's superior officer, but their relationship is far from the typical professional connection. There exists between them a sort of amicable animosity, as Roy takes a great deal of personal pleasure in teasing Fullmetal and watching him squirm under his orders and, at the same time, Ed takes pleasure in getting around his orders and showing Mustang up whenever he manages to find an opportunity. Though their meetings are fraught with a great deal of apparent, mutual dislike, Flame and Fullmetal hold a great deal of respect for one another and are compatriots as well as co-conspirators in the secret battle against the Homunculi. Having originally scouted the young boy for the State Alchemist program and formed a bond with him, Roy genuinely wishes to see Edward fulfill his goal and Edward also subtly supports Mustang's secret bid to become the Führer and improve the country.

Hohenheim - Edward's relationship with his estranged father is strained in both the manga and 2003 anime versions of the storyline. Blaming his mother's death on Hohenheim's sudden departure, Edward antagonizes him and initially refuses to accept the slightest bit of help or cooperation from him. After a while, however, Edward comes to terms with his father's presence and comes to trust his expertise in regards to dealing with the Homunculi. In the final chapter when Hohenheim offers his last life to bring up Al and apologizes for all he has done, Ed sheds tears while berating him for even suggesting that, finally calling him father. This reveals that Ed manages to forgive his father, even though his pride wouldn't do so completely.

Trisha Elric - Before her death from a contagious illness in 1904, Edward's dear mother had always been a source of greatest comfort to him. Wishing to fill the void left in Trisha's heart from her husband's sudden and seemingly permanent departure, young Edward did everything he could to make her smile. In fact, it was the fact that his mother was so pleasantly surprised by his alchemical abilities that Edward became so engrossed in alchemy at such a young age. In no uncertain terms, Trisha's death was the defining moment of Edward's young life - the trigger for all the sadness that was to follow. However, he still holds her dearly in his heart, suffering from the void that her absence has left within him.

Izumi Curtis - As a former student of this spartan-minded alchemy mentor, Edward's respect for Izumi's great wealth of knowledge coupled with his memories of her harsh physical and spiritual training during his youth contribute to the fact that she is initially the only person of whom the brash young State Alchemist is outright and unapologetically afraid. That being said, the time she spent raising Edward and Alphonse to be skilled alchemists and wise young men in general has left an immensely profound print on their hearts, causing them to see her (in her gentler moments) as a sort of surrogate mother, just as she seems to look at them as surrogate sons. Their relationship hits a strain with the boys' shame at having directly disobeyed her teachings, but when they own up to their transgression, Edward and Izumi are able to come to an understanding, not merely as master and student or as surrogate mother and son, but as friends and colleagues.

Abilities
Despite Edward's small stature and young age, he is a remarkable combatant. Having apprenticed under Izumi Curtis, Ed was taught to condition his body through regular workouts and sparring as part of her philosophy, "to train the spirit, first train the body." As such, his slight frame belies a compactly muscular build that, in addition to his naturally high energy level and endurance, fuels his considerable strength and agility. Due to Izumi's spartan training, Edward has become a particularly competent hand-to-hand fighter, able to hold his own against armed opponents and even skilled martial arts practitioners. Besides that, his steel right arm and left leg augment his fighting strength by adding to his defensive and offensive capabilities as well as his speed - after he is refitted with a lighter, cold-climate automail in Chapter 70 of the manga.

As suggested by his unprecedented acceptance into the State Alchemist program at such a remarkably young age, Edward Elric is an alchemical prodigy of genius level intellect. From early childhood, he displayed a proficiency for alchemy, acquiring self-taught alchemy skills and comprehension from the advanced literature in his father's abandoned study at an age that shocked even his mother. Having incorporated alchemy into his life during his developmental stages, Edward sees the world alchemically and is therefore able to solve complicated codes, puzzles and mysteries much more easily than normal. He has also shown himself to be exceptionally adept at chemistry and reasonably competent with biology; indeed even his preparations for the failed attempt to resurrect his mother were indicative of these. Edward's near-encyclopedic knowledge of alchemical theory is astounding and contributed to his incredible success with emergency Soul Binding experimentation. He shows an uncanny level of focus that allows him to effectively shut out everything from his surroundings and devote all of his considerable mental power to whatever problem demands his attention, especially in the case of books.

Combat Alchemy
As a result of having passed through The Gate and witnessing the Truth, Edward became one of the few alchemists who do not require a drawn Transmutation Circle to perform alchemical transmutations. By merely touching his palms together, he creates an energy circulation with his arms and transmutes by using his own will as a substitute for the necessary runes. This remarkable talent makes his transmutations both instantaneous and incredibly versatile, allowing him to use alchemy to its fullest potential in direct combat. In the 2003 anime, Edward was initially unaware of his new talent and continued to draw transmutation circles when performing alchemy, but after he accidentally used this ability to heat water to comfort the pregnant Gracia Hughes, he ended up using it regularly.

With this quick style, Edward becomes a master of his surroundings and uses the substances therein to supplement his physical prowess in battle - creating giant earthen hands to lift objects, columns of stone to gain himself the higher ground and ogre-faced battering rams with which to strike opponents. Ed also specializes in transmuting weapons with which to do battle and often crafts menacing-looking swords and ostentatious lances when necessary, but his primary weapon is his automail right arm, whose forearm plating he transmutes into various blades.

Of course, the true genius of Edward Elric's combat alchemy lies in his aptitude for incorporating the alchemy styles of others into his own after merely having once seen them in action, which makes him very adaptable to various situations. So far, he has adapted Scar's destruction alchemy, Alex Louis Armstrong's gauntlets and stone spikes as well as Greed's carbon armor hardening into his combat repertoire. In the 2003 anime, he also took on the tactic of repeatedly altering the chemical makeup of his automail in order to keep Scar from comprehending and therefore, destroying it.

In the manga and 2009 anime, Edward's alchemy mostly deals with the transmutation of inanimate solid objects. In the 2003 anime his alchemy is somewhat more diverse. In this series he has also shown the ability to transmute water in multiple ways, like boiling and freezing it, forming moving constructs from it and even changing its chemical composition to that of other fluids. Lastly he can use his alchemy to transmute plants; in one instance he used alchemy to grow flowers from the ground and in another he mentioned being able to transmute grass into bread.

History
Born to Trisha Elric and Van Hohenheim of Resembool in the winter of 1899, Edward's first few years were relatively happy; but after the sudden departure of his father during the lad's formative years, Ed was left with his mother and younger brother Alphonse as his only family. The three Elrics lived in peace in the rural village and the boys began displaying a remarkable talent for alchemy at a young age, much to the joyful astonishment of his mother. However, early in the year 1904, Trisha contracted an illness that had been spreading in the area and died, leaving her two sons orphaned. Even while mourning, mired in grief, Edward vowed to his brother that the two of them would find a way to bring their dear mother back to life with the power of alchemy.

Edward and Alphonse spent the next few years living on their own in the Elric family home, supported by their close childhood friend Winry Rockbell and her grandmother Pinako, and pursuing the alchemical knowledge necessary for their planned resurrection. Although they had gained a great deal of information and comprehension regarding the extended basics of the craft, before long it became apparent to the young prodigies that there was only so far they could go while being self-taught. In a stroke of good fortune, Resembool was visited by an exceptionally skilled alchemist named Izumi Curtis who, after some persuasion, agreed to take the Elric brothers on as her apprentices provided they pass a preliminary test. She brought the boys to Yock Island near the town of Dublith in the southern region, where she informed them that they were to survive for one full month without alchemy. If, at the end of their ordeal, they could correctly explain the concept "One is All and All is One", they would begin their training under her wing.

While there, the brothers discovered self-reliance and gained new abilities and insights relevant to living in the world under their own power from having to forage and hunt for food as well as fend off periodic attacks from Mason, an employee at the Curtises' butcher shop who had disguised himself as a masked wild man at Izumi's behest. Coming to realize that, as a human, he is but a small part of the world and universe as a whole, but that the world and universe cannot exist without a collective of small parts, it is Edward who answered Izumi's riddle properly when she finally returned. For the next five months, the Elric brothers were subjected to Izumi's intensive alchemy and martial arts training, growing significantly in both mind and body and gaining a great deal of alchemical knowledge before returning to Resembool. Though instructed specifically by Izumi to understand that death is an irreversible part of the flow of the world and that acceptance of such is important to the "One is All, All is One" concept, the boys dove headlong into their plan to resurrect their mother upon their homecoming, having advanced their knowledge while abroad and discovered the basics to a forbidden practice called Human Transmutation.

Devising a Human Transmutation Circle, amassing the elemental ingredients for an adult human body and offering their own blood as soul and biological data, the boys secretly initiated the Human Transmutation secretly in their home. Unfortunately, the Human Transmutation resulted in a Rebound; Alphonse and Edward were pulled into The Gate. Encountering the mysterious being called Truth, Edward was stripped of his left leg in exchange for crossing into God's domain and peeking at the Gate's vast wealth of alchemical knowledge. Maimed and bleeding, Edward was returned to the human dimension to find that Alphonse had not yet returned from his disappearance into the Gate, that the mother they had attempted to revive was a grotesque mass of organs only capable of sustaining life for a few moments and that his own sojourn into the Gate had granted him the curious ability to perform transmutations merely by clapping his hands together, without the aid of a Transmutation Circle - in the same style used by Izumi. Desperate to at least have his brother by his side, Edward willfully performed another Human Transmutation to call him back, this time sacrificing his right arm in exchange for Al's soul, which he bound alchemically to an antique suit of armor with a Blood Rune before passing out from severe blood loss. Alphonse carried Ed to the Rockbell house, where a shocked Pinako and Winry performed emergency surgery to save the young boy's life.

For some time afterward, Edward remained in a sorrowful torpor until Lt. Colonel Roy Mustang arrived in Resembool on an inaccurate tip regarding possible State Alchemist candidates. Upon discovering the bloody remains of the brothers' failed experiment, Mustang confronted Edward at the Rockbell home and persuaded him to consider joining the State Alchemist program as a means to perhaps restore his limbs and his brother's body someday. Edward, driven by the guilt of what his ambition had done to his little brother, commissioned Pinako and Winry to craft him an automail arm and leg in order for him to follow Mustang's advice. When told that the surgery would be excruciating and that recovery would take at least three years, Ed commented that the pain would be nothing compared to Alphonse's suffering and promised to finish recovery in a single year.

In the fall of 1911, his new automail limbs complete, twelve-year-old Edward ventured with Mustang to Central City to apply for his state certification. After passing the written examination and psychological evaluation, Edward astounded all the officials present - including the Führer, King Bradley himself - with his superb and unique abilities and even managed to win the Führer's favor with his brazenness. Within a week, he was issued his license and the symbolic title of "Fullmetal Alchemist". On October 3rd, Edward returned to Resembool, packed up his belongings, burned down the Elric house (claiming that, without it, he and his brother would have no means of turning back from their goal) and left home with Alphonse to find a way to restore him to normal.

Adventures in the East
Three years later, at the start of the story, Edward and Alphonse visit the eastern frontier town of Reole following a lead on what they consider their best chance at restoration - the legendary Philosopher's Stone. They infiltrate the town's newfound Church of Leto with the help of a young Letoist girl named Rosé in order to investigate the mysterious priest Cornello who claims to use divine powers to bring about miracles. Suspecting that Cornello is in possession of the Philosopher's Stone, Edward exposes him as a fraud and reveals his plan to fool the people of Reole for his own militaristic goals. Unfortunately, as Edward defeats the faux clergyman, the stone Cornello holds shatters and disintegrates. Coming to the conclusion that his stone, too, was a fake, Ed and Al set off on their next assignment, but not before informing the distraught and now spiritually perplexed Rosé that she is able to move forward even without her faith so long as she has her two strong legs and the truth.

Next, the brothers move on to the coal mining town of Youswell, where they discern that the local landowner, the corrupt Lieutenant Yoki, has been harassing taxing the villagers unjustly. With some clever trickery, Edward manages to swindle ownership of the town and mines away from Yoki and transfer it to the grateful citizens.

After thwarting a train hijacking, the boys arrive in East City, where Colonel Mustang introduces Edward to state-certified bio-alchemist Shou Tucker, whom they hope can use his expertise on chimeric alchemy to give them some insight on a different means of restoring their bodies. Unfortunately, Edward discovers that Tucker's famous past success in creating a chimera capable of human speech was the result of a human experimentation in which he sacrificed the life of his "estranged" ex-wife and that his fresh triumph was willingly gained at the cost of his young daughter Nina, to whom the boys had grown quite close.

While Edward and Alphonse suffer the grief of Nina's tragedy, they learn that Tucker and his mutilated daughter have been murdered by a mysterious assailant - the State Alchemist-targeting serial killer known only as "Scar", who then comes after Edward himself. Baffled by Scar's curious ability to alchemically destroy anything he touches with his right hand, the boys are soundly defeated, with Edward's automail arm reduced to shards of scrap and much of Alphonse's armor body being disintegrated as well. Fortunately, Mustang's forces come to Fullmetal's aid before Scar can enact his lethal brand of justice and, with the help of Major Alex Louis Armstrong, the Strong Arm Alchemist, it is revealed that Scar's grudge is linked to his being an Ishvalan survivor of the Ishval Civil War. Scar flees the scene and the boys make plans to get Ed's arm rebuilt in Resembool so that he can repair Al's body without damaging the blood rune inside.

With Major Armstrong as an escort (since Edward is vulnerable to attack without his arm), the boys make their way out to the countryside, but when Armstrong recognizes an his old war colleague, medical alchemist Dr. Tim Marcoh, in a small town on the way, Edward disembarks to perhaps find the bio-alchemy information that Shou Tucker couldn't provide. Asking around town, they learn that Marcoh, who had fled the front line in Ishval has been living under an assumed name as a small-time physician, treating patients with alchemy in the years since the war. But the biggest surprise is what Edward learns from Marcoh himself - that the research he had been performing during the war, the research that had caused him to leave the military, was the development of the Philosopher's Stone. Marcoh reluctantly shows Edward the stone that he had stolen when he left the war, stating that, while incredibly powerful, it is an imperfect version of the legendary stone. Edward, filled with hope, asks to see Marcoh's research notes on the Philosopher's Stone, but even after hearing Ed's tragic story, the good doctor urges that the young alchemist not desire it, for it is truly a hellish pursuit. However, Edward's determination finally sways Marcoh, who hands Fullmetal a note describing the location of his hidden research notes along with a cryptic message: his hope that Edward's talent will lead him to "the truth behind the truth".

Edward arrives in Resembool where the Rockbells tend to his automail, Pinako adjusting his left leg to make up for the slight bit of growth since his last visit and Winry working nonstop for three days and nights to build a new and better right arm for him from scratch. Freshly repaired, Edward wastes no time fixing Al's armor body and after a day of rest and relaxation in their hometown, the alchemists set off for the location specified in Marcoh's communiqué - the first branch of the National Central Library in Central City.

Central City and Laboratory #5
Upon arriving in Central, the Major relinquishes his position as the boys' bodyguard to resume his normal duties, but appoints two of his own subordinates - 2nd Lieutenant Maria Ross and Sergeant Denny Brosh - to remain as Fullmetal's escorts since Scar is still at large. With their new guards in tow, Edward and Alphonse head to the National Central Library to find Marcoh's hidden journals, but are dismayed to find that the library's first branch and all the texts within had been completely destroyed in a suspicious fire just one day before their arrival. Edward inquires at the library's main office if they have any record of Marcoh's journals actually having been in the first branch building, but the answer is inconclusive. He is, however, referred to a woman named Sheska, who had previously worked in the first branch and has a remarkable knowledge of all the texts that were held therein. Though she confirms that Dr. Marcoh's notes had indeed been in the first branch - and, therefore, incinerated - Sheska is able to recreate the entirety of the journal word-for-word due to her photographic memory. Discovering that Marcoh had coded his sensitive research notes in the guise of a cookbook, Edward and Alphonse compensate Sheska for her help and get to work deciphering the code. After ten grueling days of poring over Marcoh's text as well as a score of alchemical reference materials in the Central Library, the boys finally decrypt the journals and come to the horrific truth alluded to by the doctor himself - that the legendary Philosopher's Stone is created from live human beings.

Having come to such a devastating dead end in their pursuit, Ed and Al are thrown into a deep despair and begin to wonder whether the time of their restoration will never come. As Edward considers asking Alphonse whether he blames him for the tragedy that befell them, the brothers are interrupted by Armstrong, Ross and Brosh, who have all become informed about the terrible developments. However, their attempts to comfort the Elrics remind Edward that Marcoh had mentioned cryptically that there had been a "truth behind the truth" and he continues investigating with renewed vigor. Looking into the matter of the alchemical laboratories within the city limits, Edward discovers that the supposedly unused Fifth Laboratory is located next to the city's prison and, using the idea of the Philosopher's Stone's makeup as a base, posits that death row inmates may have been smuggled into Lab 5 to be secretly used in the stone's creation. After Armstrong informs Edward that the officer in charge of Lab 5 had been killed by Scar, cutting off their investigation choices, the brothers make plans to sneak off and investigate the facility under cover of night, without informing their bodyguards.

Arriving at the lab, they discover several points that make it clear that the "decommissioned" building is still in use and Edward opts to slip inside to get a closer look, leaving Al outside because of the prominence of his brother's size. Inside, he discovers a room built around a mysterious Transmutation Circle designed with multiple layers of alternating pentagons, and concludes that this five-point array is specifically for creating Philosopher's Stones. Before he can investigate further, however, he is attacked by a mysterious armored figure calling himself Number 48 and claiming to be charged with eliminating anyone who intrudes on Laboratory 5 in pursuit of its secrets. After Edward discovers that 48 is an "empty" suit of armor, just like Alphonse, the guard explains that he had been a serial killer called "Slicer" in his past life, before Lab 5 scientists pulled him off death row to perform experiments on his body and soul, confirming Ed's hypothesis. However, Edward runs into trouble when it turns out that the serial killer known as "Slicer" had actually been a pair of murderous brothers and that both of them inhabit the armor body, giving his opponent unexpected versatility. Badly injured and backed into a corner, Edward narrowly avoids death by adopting Scar's style of destruction alchemy, thereby immobilizing Number 48. But before he can interrogate his beaten enemy, a new mystery pair appears and destroys the Slicer brothers to keep them quiet. The newcomers, a woman and a teenager both marked with the symbol Ouroboros, refer to Edward as a precious Human Sacrifice. Threatened by their dangerous abilities and angered by their insults, Edward attempts to attack, but finds himself at a marked disadvantage when his automail arm suddenly malfunctions and ceases to move altogether. The teenager, called Envy, kicks Edward in the stomach, knocking him unconscious, and carries him outside to where Ross and Brosh have arrived as backup before the Laboratory explodes.

When Ed regains consciousness the next day, he finds himself being treated in a public clinic run by one of 2nd Lt. Ross' acquaintances. He angrily laments the fact that he was unable to conduct a more thorough investigation and Ross reprimands him despite her lower rank, insisting that he learn to trust his allies in the future. His head cleared, Edward summons Winry to Central to have her repair his arm and - after reassuring Alphonse, who had been coaxed into doubting that his memories of ever being human were genuine - discusses the revelations of the Lab 5 incident with Major Armstrong, close friend and ally Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes and the Führer, who warns them all that the trail of the Philosopher's Stone may be far too dangerous to pursue any further. Having reached the limit of their investigative license in Central City, Edward and Alphonse make plans to visit their teacher in the southern region in order to strengthen their bodies and minds as well as consult Izumi on the Philosopher's Stone, Human Transmutation and the possibility of restoring their bodies. Winry, desiring to see the famous automail community of Rush Valley on the way to Dublith, tags along.

Journey to the South
As per Winry's request, the Elrics make a stop in Rush Valley to do some sightseeing; there, they meet the pickpocket Paninya, whose weaponized automail legs drive Winry to seek out their creator, Dominic Lecoulte, dragging Ed and Al along for the trip. After helping Dominic's daughter-in-law deliver a baby in a storm, the trio leaves the Lecoulte home, with Winry deciding to stay in Rush Valley as an apprentice in an automail atelier while Ed and Al continue on to Dublith.

Arriving in Dublith, the Elrics greet their Izumi and her husband Sig for the first time in four years. As they reminisce and share travel stories, the boys inquire about the Philosopher's Stone; although Izumi declares that she knows very little about the legend, she informs Ed and Al that she had recently encountered an alchemist in Central who appeared to know a great deal on the subject - an alchemist by the name of Van Hohenheim, whom Edward (still filled with resentment toward his estranged father) refuses outright to consult. After observing the boys for the day, Izumi correctly perceives that her pupils' bodies have been altered as a result of an encounter with the Gate due to Human Transmutation and demands that they explain themselves fully.

After revealing everything that had transpired since they left Izumi, she comforts them unexpectedly and praises their alchemical skill in being able to survive the ordeal even in spite of her severe disappointment in their disobedience of her repeated warnings to stay away from Human Transmutation. She reveals that she, too, had made the mistake in her youth and had several of her internal organs "taken" by the Truth, owing to her frequent hematemesis. However, in accordance with her own principles, she expels the Elric brothers as her students and demands that they leave her house. Ed reluctantly complies, but as Sig walks the two to the train station (while explaining that Izumi's Human Transmutation was an attempt to revive her stillborn child fifteen years prior), he informs Edward that he and his brother are welcome to address Izumi as a colleague now that they have been expelled, rather than as a superior, and can return to the Curtis home any time they wish. Realizing his mistake in not understanding this sooner, Edward rushes back to Izumi's house and demands that she help them restore their bodies. Reluctantly complying, Izumi puts forth the idea that Alphonse, who had had his entire body taken into the Gate, may have learned more from the Truth than either Edward or herself and that his memories of the incident may have been repressed as part of post-traumatic stress disorder. Retrieving his memories may be the necessary key to unlocking the next stage in the Elrics' journey.

While staying at the Curtis house, training and conducting research over the next few days, Edward suddenly remembers that his yearly State Alchemist assessment is overdue and rushes to South City to turn it in and avoid having his license revoked. There, he encounters Major Armstrong and Führer Bradley, who tag along on his return to Dublith. Unfortunately, Edward arrives at Izumi's home to learn that Alphonse has been kidnapped by a mysterious man named Greed - a man with an Ouroboros tattoo. Learning from Izumi that this "Greed" is interested in Edward's Soul Binding transmutation and claims rather convincingly to be a Homunculus, Edward sets off alone for the secret base of Greed's Dublith-based gang - a bar called Devil's Nest. Greed offers to make an "Equivalent Exchange" of information with Edward, promising to explain the process of creating an artificial human body in exchange for information on Soul Binding, but Edward vehemently refuses. Easily dispatching one of Greed's henchmen, Edward then aims his fist at the Homunculus himself, prompting the others of Greed's gang to run off with Alphonse in tow.

As the two battle, Ed encounters a great deal of difficulty with Greed's superhuman abilities of immediate regeneration from any physical damage and the power to coat his entire body in an indestructible armor as hard as diamond. But when he learns that Greed, despite being a Homunculus, has a physical makeup identical to a human body, Edward realizes that the armor itself must be made of condensed carbon and takes a more adaptable offensive, using Major Armstrong's style of combat alchemy to soften the carbon armor and strip it away while inflicting damage to Greed's exposed internal systems. Having met someone who can countermand his "Ultimate Shield", Greed applauds Edward's ability and flees the scene just as Führer Bradley (who had followed Edward to Devil's Nest with Major Armstrong and a cadre of Southern HQ's soldiers after overhearing Izumi's description of Greed) storms the bar with his men. Edward is detained by Southern soldiers and, after reuniting with Alphonse, is briefly interrogated by the Führer regarding the national security implications of the incident. Satisfied with the Fullmetal Alchemist's honesty, King Bradley allows the brothers to leave freely, however, back at the Curtis house, the brothers discuss the battle at Devil's Nest in private. Alphonse reveals to Edward that the ordeal and its various shocks have returned his memories of being inside the Gate, but that the information he regained did not include anything new on Human Transmutation. Edward, however, is more concerned with the Führer's actions in having every one of Greed's gang members slaughtered on the spot at Devil's Nest instead of leaving a few to be interrogated about Greed's obvious connection to the strange, Ouroboros-marked pair behind the manufacture of Philosopher's Stones in Central, despite having expressed a desire to get to the bottom of the matter. Suspicious of the military's motives, Edward resolves to keep a close eye on Bradley's actions from here on.

Stranger from Xing and the Return to Central
With his automail arm having sustained heavy damage in the fight against Greed, Edward departs from Dublith with Alphonse to visit Winry in Rush Valley for repairs. While she prepares the necessary parts and materials, the Elrics wander around town and encounter a strange young man passed out from hunger in the street. As they treat the young man to a meal, he introduces himself as Ling Yao, a traveler from the eastern nation of Xing. Ling explains that he had crossed the Great Eastern Desert so as to see the ruins of Xerxes - the birthplace of alchemy - with his own eyes and explains that he intends to research Amestrian alchemy and its differences from alkahestry, a native Xingese variation used primarily in medicinal practices. Upon hearing of this foreign practice, Edward and Al become excited at the prospects and ask Ling to demonstrate it for them, but Ling reveals that he is not an alkahestry practitioner and that the only aspect of alchemy that interests him is a legend he had once heard - the legend of the Philosopher's Stone and its capacity to grant immortality.

Ed feigns ignorance of the Stone and attempts to leave, but Ling sees through his ploy, immediately summoning his two armed bodyguards to detain the Elrics. Edward resists, prompting both of Ling's bodyguards to attack with Xingese martial arts; the ensuing fight spreads throughout the town with Alphonse combating the sword-wielding bodyguard Fu and Edward battling the kunai knife wielding Lan Fan. Edward encounters some difficulty dealing with his opponent's speed, but quickly learns that Lan Fan becomes rather rash and predictable each time Ed speaks ill of Ling. Using this information, Ed manages to gain the upper hand over her, but when Lan Fan disables Ed's automail arm with a knife and tosses a grenade, Fullmetal is forced to improvise. Hiding in the smoke and dust of the explosion, he detaches his inert automail and plants it as bait for a hastily transmuted snare trap to capture her. Alphonse, who reveals himself to have discovered the ability to transmute without a Transmutation Circle, appears on the scene defeated and captured Fu in tow, followed by Ling, who cleverly frees his comrades and escapes. The Elrics re-encounter Ling taking advantage of the hospitality at Winry's place of business and, after all the necessary repairs have been made to Edward's arm, reluctantly agree to let the young man and his cohorts tag along as they travel back to Central City with Winry in tow.

Arriving at their destination, Ling's habit of wandering off kicks in and the party manages to lose him. Ignoring his absence, Ed and Al head with Winry to headquarters so as to greet Hughes and ask whether he had uncovered anything new pertaining to the investigation of those Ouroboros-bearers that they now suspect to be Homunculi like Greed. They are shocked to encounter Lt. Hawkeye and Colonel Mustang at headquarters, who state that they had both recently been transferred to the capital, but when Ed asks how Hughes is doing, Roy informs him that Maes has retired from the military and left for the countryside with his family. Disappointed, the Elrics find lodging at a local military-run hotel and attempt to continue the investigation on their own, but soon discover a horrible bit of news in the evening paper: that their friend Maria Ross has been convicted of Hughes' murder, which had apparently taken place a month prior. They rush off to confirm the information and coincidentally run into Ross herself, who is apparently fleeing from jail in the curious company of both Ling and Barry the Chopper, the soul bound armor guard that Alphonse had fought during the mission at Laboratory 5. While Barry keeps the Elrics occupied, Ross escapes on her own, but when the group observeds a huge explosion over in the direction Maria was headed, Ed slips by and hurries to see what happened; he is mortified to find Colonel Mustang standing over the body of Maria Ross, charred beyond all recognition by the Flame Alchemist's alchemy.

Edward confronts him angrily, but receives no explanation for Mustang's actions save for an apology for not informing him of Hughes' death. The Elrics accompany the cleanup crew, including Major Armstrong, to the hospital where Dr. Knox reveals that the body he had just autopsied was so thoroughly burnt that only the dental records could be used to verify the corpse's identity. He admonishes Mustang, but to Edward's fury, the Flame Alchemist offers no further signs of remorse instead recommending that Armstrong - who is visibly distraught over his subordinate's violent death - take some time off in the east, where Roy claims the women are particularly beautiful. Incensed by his superior's callousness, Ed return to their hotel with Al, but find that Winry has disappeared; they deduce that Winry, having seen the report of Hughes' death, went off into town and their suspicions are confirmed when Gracia Hughes, Maes' widow, calls and asks them to come to her house and pick up their friend.

Arriving at the Hughes house, Edward decides to set the record straight and explains the situation regarding Maes' death to Gracia, apologizing profusely for having drawn her late husband into such a dangerous situation. Though prepared for Gracia's admonishment and blame, Ed is somewhat taken aback when Alphonse joins in the apology - stating that, if it will cost other people their lives, he no longer wants his human body back. But they are both surprised when Gracia urges them to press on in the pursuit of their goal, telling them that her husband would want them to continue and their failure to do so would be to render Maes' death meaningless. Ed is heartened by these words, but can't help noticing Gracia sobbing in the window as the three youngsters depart. Edward mopes in the hotel for the rest of the day, but as he goes to check on Winry - who has also been moping - she informs him that she had baked an apple pie at Mrs. Hughes' house, as Gracia had taught her how during her last visit. She urges Edward to have some while stating sorrowfully that she would have liked Maes to try some as well.

The Ruins of Xerxes
The next morning, as the Elrics and Winry continue moping about their hotel, they receive a sudden visit from Major Armstrong, who says nothing but throws a heavy blow at Edward, denting his automail arm. Ignoring Ed and Al's protests, Armstrong declares that he will be taking Fullmetal to Resembool for repairs while Alphonse - who is too conspicuous - remains in the capital. The two State Alchemists arrive in Resembool soon afterward, where Ed is surprised to see 2nd Lt. Breda waiting for them.

Breda introduces Ed and Alex to a Mr. Han, who will be sneaking them across the border into Xerxes, and Edward begins to understand what is going on. Moving under the government's radar, Ed, Han, Armstrong and Breda travel by horse across the hot sands of the great desert to reach the ruins of Xerxes' capital, where Fu is waiting to rendezvous with them. As the party moves through the ruins, which have become a haven for refugees and travelers alike, Edward takes note of a large mural depicting what looks like a very familiar transmutation array, but before he can examine it more closely, Fu calls him and states that they are almost to the rendezvous point, where the last of heir group is waiting. And Edward, jovially cursing the Colonel, remembers the strange comment Roy had made about women in the east being beautiful as he lays his eyes upon the mysterious final party member - a very much alive 2nd Lt. Maria Ross.

Breda explains that, after becoming suspicious of the flashy and overly-publicized way in which Ross was arrested for and suddenly convicted of Hughes' murder, Mustang secretly orchestrated her violent escape from prison, elaborately faked death and covert extradition from the country to where no one would recognize her. With that out of the way, Breda declares that Edward and Major Armstrong were brought out of the country on Colonel Mustang's orders so as to synchronize all of the data they had all collected on their mysterious enemy while away from prying eyes. Ed and Armstrong share all the information they and Hughes had collected on Laboratory 5 and the Homunculi while Breda fills them in on all the data Mustang had gathered from Barry and his own investigations.

With all the information synchronized, Edward reflects upon the encouragement that Mrs. Hughes had given him earlier and comes to a decision. He declares to the others that, though he cannot give up on the promise he and Alphonse made to each other and though he is only one human being only capable of so much, he will do his utmost to ensure that no one else will become a casualty in their personal redemption. After Ross leaves with Fu to continue their long journey across the desert to Xing, Breda and Armstrong make preparations to sneak back into Amestris through Resembool. However, Edward asks them to wait while he goes to reexamine the mysterious mural. He notices the array contains several archaic alchemical runes such as "the hermaphroditic double-headed dragon" as well as what appears to be alternating pentagons with five suns and five moons at their vertices and, though he recognizes the array's shape as the circle he discovered in Laboratory 5, the circles large missing sections prevent him from truly understanding what the circle was for. Before he can get a closer look, however, Edward is attacked from behind. Easily subduing his assailant, he discovers that the man is Ishvalan and immediately realizes that he has been quietly surrounded by Ishvalan refugees hiding from the Amestrian government in the ruins of Xerxes. They demand that he become their hostage to be used as a bargaining chip in their negotiations for the return of their Holy Land, Ishval, but are interrupted when the eldest of their camp, Mistress Shan, arrives on the scene admonishes them for their reprehensible behavior. When Edward asks why Shan would protect an Amestrian when she has so much reason to hate them, she reveals that (though she does hate Amestris) she remembers a pair of Amestrian doctors who had saved her life during the Ishval Civil War. When Edward discovers that Shan is speaking of Sara and Urey Rockbell, Winry's parents, he is glad to hear of their bravery but asks solemnly if Shan knows how the two died. Sorrowfully, she explains to a mortified Edward that the Rockbells were slain near the end of the war by an Ishvalan warrior monk whom they themselves had helped save - a man with bandages all over his face and an elaborate tattoo running up the length of his right arm.

Returning Father and the Nameless Grave
Promising to deliver Shan's message of gratitude and remorse to the Rockbells' graves, Edward departs and is dropped off by Breda and Armstrong in Resembool. As he heads toward Pinako's house to have the minor damage to his automail arm repaired, Edward stops at the village graveyard to say his peace to Urey and Sara but notices a familiar figure standing before the grave of his mother. Shocked and angry, Edward comes face-to-face with Van Hohenheim, his father.

Edward scolds Van Hohenheim furiously for leaving them and then for coming back where he isn't wanted, but Hohenheim doesn't seem interested in his son's grievances, instead asking what happened to the house. Edward crossly explains that he burned it down as a declaration of their resolve, but Van Hohenheim declares instead that Edward had done it because he didn't want to be reminded of his mistake with Human Transmutation. Even more upset, Edward storms off toward Pinako's house, annoyed that Hohenheim is headed there as well. That night, Edward lies awake in bed listening as Pinako and Van discuss the tragedy that had befallen him and his brother and is shocked when Hohenheim suggests to Pinako that the creature that the boys had brought about through Human Transmutation had not been their mother at all.

After Hohenheim leaves the next morning, Edward asks Pinako to help him dig up the corpse of the creature he had transmuted in order to verify whether or not it truly was Trisha. Upon doing so, Pinako is able to conduct an examination which concludes that none of the deformed body's traits had anything in common with Trisha. The being that the brothers had sacrificed their very bodies to create had not even been their mother. While this fact disturbs Pinako, Edward is shown a ray of hope in the discovery: if bringing people back from the dead is an absolute impossibility, then somewhere inside the Gate, Alphonse's original body must still be alive.

Edward fashions a proper grave for the creature's remains, remembering that - though it was not his mother - it had been a living human which had raised its head to look at him just before dying. He then calls Izumi to inform her of his findings and ask her to confirm whether or not the baby she had transmuted had actually been her child. With these new discoveries acquired and his arm repaired, Ed prepares to leave, but before he does, Pinako asks him to deliver a message to Van that she had forgotten to relay. She tells Edward that his mother's last message to his father was an apology for not being able to fulfill their "promise" and for passing away before him.

Arrival in Central soon afterward, Edward is shocked to discover that Alphonse's body has been badly damaged in battle, with large chunks missing from his armor. As he repairs the damage alchemically, Edward is informed by Alphonse that an operation had taken place during his absence which led Mustang's group to the very threshold of the Homunculi's lair, resulting in the deaths of Barry the Chopper and the Homunculus Lust. In turn, Edward explains that he dug up the body of the creature they had transmuted while in Resembool and discovered that it was not their mother. He goes on to explain his belief that Alphonse's original body must still be alive, meaning that instead of creating a new one, all they have to do is retrieve the one that exists. Alphonse then remembers that, during the incident inside the Gate, he had seen his human body opposite himself and also mentions that he has a memory of seeing Edward from inside the body of the transmuted creature before it rejected his soul. Just then, Edward receives a phone call from Izumi, confirming after hours of research that the child she had transmuted had traits that could not have come from either her or Sig's lineages - meaning that it was not her child after all. She thanks Edward for releasing her from the burden of her guilt at having caused her child to die a second time. Following her example, Al thanks Edward for proving to him that he was not the cause of a second death for their mother. With this new information, the brothers resolve to find a way into the Gate to retrieve Al's body.

The boys consider their options, positing that the circumstances of their joint rebound may have caused their spirits o cross and intermix, allowing Alphonse's body to survive, but when the topic of using the Philosopher's Stone arises, Edward expresses his aversion to using human lives for their personal gain and thinks of the Homunculi. Requiring more information, the boys decide that they will need a way to speak with a Homunculus directly. Edward visits Laboratory 3, where Al had informed him the entrance to the underground base of the Homunculi lay, but finds only that the entrance has been silently covered up with alchemy. But as they wonder what their next move should be, the Elrics are met by Sgt. Brosh, who informs them that Scar has been sighted within the city and has apparently resumed his extermination of State Alchemists.

As he reveals to Al what he learned in Xerxes about Scar likely being the one who murdered Winry's parents, Edward gets an idea and states that they will need to confront Scar, not only to ask him about the Rockbells but also to lure out the Homunculi by putting himself in seemingly mortal danger. Remembering that the two of them were called "Human Sacrifices", Edward posits that whatever the Homunculi are planning requires the Elrics' participation, making their lives indispensable. Alphonse spots flaws in the plan, but when Ling and Lan Fan appear at the window, having overheard their conversation and offering their help in exchange for a part of the spoils when they manage to capture an immortal Homunculus, a joint plan comes together.

Hunting Immortals
Incidentally, Envy and Gluttony show up to where Ed, Ling, Roy and the others are hiding and taking shelter. While Roy and the others escape, Ed, Al and Ling stay behind to take on Envy and Gluttony. While in the midst of fighting the homunculi, Ed, Ling, and Envy are swallowed by Gluttony, leaving Alphonse horrified at their sudden disappearance into the hungry creature. With the three of them stuck seemingly indefinitely in Gluttony's stomach, Envy reveals that Gluttony is a fake Gate of Truth created by Father and concludes that there is no way out. Edward, questionoing Envy about the homunculi, their creator, and the Ishvalan Civil War, is shocked and infuriated to discover that Envy was the "soldier" that shot and killed the Ishvalan child, sparking the beginning of the Civil War. This realization turns into a fight where Envy reveals his true form and through a course of actions ends up swallowing Ed. While inside, Ed sets eyes on Envy's core: a Philosopher's Stone. He is struck with a sudden realization and convincs Envy to release him, promising all three of them a way out of Gluttony's stomach. Using Envy's stone as the passage fee, Edward transmutes himself while Envy and Ling jump into the resulting gate, theorizing that said Gate would lead them back into their own world. As Ed is pulled into the Gate, he is confused to infact see two Gates and is shocked to see Al's body waiting at the other gate, proving his theory that his and Al's souls are somehow connected. As Edward is pulled back into the real world, he vows to someday get Al's body back from the gate.

Gluttony, who stayed with Alphonse when he swallowed Ed, Ling, and Envy, brings Al to Central to introduce him to his Father. In the place where he says Al will meet with Father, Ed, Ling, and Envy escape out of his stomach and all end up to where Father is. They find this mysterious man has a striking resemblance with Hohenheim, Ed and Al's father. They learn about how the Philosopher's Stone and the Homunculi are connected, and Ed tries to fight Father. But Father inhibits both Ed and Al's ability to use alchemy and both are easily overpowered. Father lets the two of them go, though, since they will be valuable "sacrifices" in the future but turns Ling into the new host of the Homunculus Greed. Later the Elrics are shown forced to keep working within the military who threaten to use their friends from Resembool as hostages if they reveal about the Homunculi and rebel.

The Northern Wall of Briggs
Being unable to protect them, Ed and Al go to the north of the country to make a request to its guardian, Olivier Mira Armstrong (Major Armstrong's sister) to help them look for the "Alkahestry girl," May Chang.

They ally with Major General Armstrong and attempt to get information out of General Raven (who is later killed by Armstrong). Because of Raven's disappearance Solf J. Kimblee is called in (along with Winry, who replaces his automail with one more suited for the northern climate) and tells Edward he has to do his job as a state alchemist. Ed is assigned three tasks - 1) search for Scar, 2) search for Marcoh, and 3) "carve a bloody crest into Briggs". Edward chooses to look for Scar first with the Briggs soldiers.

Winry comes with them to look for Scar and May. Scar is seen fighting Zampano and Jerso until Ed and Al intervene. When the Briggs soldiers show up, they come up with a plan to escape from Kimblee with Winry. Edward splits up with Alphonse so Al can warn the soldiers and Winry of a trap back at the fort. In Chapter 76 Edward is impaled by a metal rod after losing a fight with Kimblee and collapses (Al also blanks out in unison with Ed's wound). Chapter 77 shows him saving Kimblee's subordinate Chimeras so that they can remove the rod. At the expense of cutting a short part of his life span, he heals the wound using his life energy. When the revealed homunculus Greed runs off he runs into Edward, He offers him to come join him and agrees.

The Promised Day
In Chapter 84 Ed is seen at the Rockbell house in Resembool hiding with Greed and the rest of his followers. Ed goes to Winry's room to keep watch, and Winry comes into her room and starts to undress when she is shocked to see Ed. The two scream from the shock which causes everyone to believe Ed and Winry are in danger and rushes up to her room and an annoyed Winry kicks everyone out of her room. Shortly after the incident, she fills Ed in on where Al is and what's been happening in Lior. While Ed fills her in on how Ling has become Greed, and why they were hiding out in her house. Ed, who is worried about her safety asks her to leave the country but she refuses, wanting to help Ed in anyway she can. Ed soon departs and Winry stays in Resembool for the time being.

In Chapter 85 Ed arrives to Kanama, where is Hohenheim. After a serious talk with his father, Ed finds Al being possessed by Pride, who finds them thanks to Gluttony's smell sense; from Chapter 86-88 occurs the fight against Pride and Gluttony. Ed and company take the upper hand first because Ed used transmutation to blow up the electric system. The darkness caused allowed Heinkel to attack a defenseless Pride, while the sudden return of Lan Fan, with the aid of Ling, allowed to take care of Gluttony.

However, the noise of the fight attract the villagers, which carry with them fire lanterns, where Heinkel and Pride were. The lanterns' light allowed Pride to cast shadows to attack Heinkel and to destroy the lanterns, which make a fire in the woods. The fire's light was enough for Pride counterattacks with shadows. Guided by Fu, Ed finds and helps Heinkel before Pride kills him; also, thanks to Fu and his light bombs, Ed recovers Al's armor body from Pride's control. Nevertheless, seeing how things were going, Pride eats Gluttony to improve his own abilities and gain more lives, making Pride with the upper hand in the battle.

Being informed by Fu and Heinkel about the events, Al thought a plan where Hohenheim was vita; it was then when Hohenheim came into help Ed, Greed and Lan Fan. Concerned about Hohenheim's presence and plan, Pride forgets about everyone else and centers his attention in him, just to be attack by Al for the back, something that doesn't work. Amused about "the plan" and the recovery of his hostage, Pride mocks Al, something that makes Hohenheim act according to Al' true plan: lock up Pride and Al in a huge earth dome, where total darkness make Pride's powers useless.

Although at first Ed was furious with Hohenheim for lock Al in the dome, after knowing was Al's own idea, he talks with his brother and prepares for the now starting Promised Day. In Chapter 89, Ed and the rest leaves Kanama to go to Central to the final clash in Father's lair.

In Chapter 93-94, Mustang's gang arrives at Central. While Mustang and Hawkeye meet up with Edward, the other subordinates send out a radio transmission of how the upper brass of the military is corrupted, although they say it in believable terms and do not mention the Homunculi or their real intentions. Mustang and everyone then encounters Envy who mockingly reveals he was Hughes' killer, something Mustang has been trying to find ever since Hughes died. Edward, Scar, Mei and the chimera all move on to get to Father, leaving Hawkeye and Mustang to fight Envy. Envy, realizing that Mustang could easily kill him, attempts to escape. Mustang orders Hawkeye not to come follow him and goes off after Envy, but she chooses to come anyway. Envy makes another dash for it when the angered Mustang mercilessly continues to burn him, and finds Hawkeye is searching for Mustang. He shifts into Mustang and tries to deceive her. Hawkeye however understands that it could be Envy and tricks the Homunculus by saying that Mustang never calls her "lieutenant" but Riza when the two of them are alone. Envy falls for her trap which confirms that it was indeed Envy and not Mustang. She is able to take him by shooting him repeatedly for a little while even with her injury, but Envy eventually is able to get the upper hand and ensnares her in his elongated arm. Just as he is about to kill her, Mustang blasts him from a side entry, and warns Envy that Riza is one of his dearest subordinates. He burns Envy one final time which causes the homunculus to revert back to his ugly parasitic form from before. He is only one spark away from killing Envy when Hawkeye, although injured surprisingly gets up and puts her gun to his head. She refuses to put her gun down and tries to persuade Mustang to stop, Mustang explodes at her, going into a fit of rage and refusing to give up his vengeance. Ed and Scar arrive shortly, and Ed uses his alchemy to grab Envy to stop him while Mustang then demands that Ed to give him back for him to finish Envy off.

When Edward refuses, Roy threatens to burn his arm off. Edward accepts the challenge, but asks for him to look at himself first, claiming "You think you can lead a country looking like that?!". Edward then reminds him of his goal and Mustang's temper subsides partially. Scar partially agrees with Edward that Roy couldn't lead others the way he is now, but shows no opinion if Roy does exact his revenge on Envy.

Roy then begins to scream about the time it has taken to get this far and how close he is to killing Envy "for Hughes". Riza yells back that she understands, but what he's doing right now is not helping anything, rather, it is just satisfying Mustang's need for revenge. She begs him, "Don't go where I can't follow." Roy tells her that if she was going to shoot, she should have shot, and then asks her what she would do if he were to die. She replies that she wouldn't continue living and would die with him. Roy, still somewhat aggravated, blasts a hole in the wall. Finally when it seems his anger has mostly subsided, he comments about how he cannot lose her too. He laments on his recent behavior and actions and apologizes to her for how he forced her to act. He sinks to his knees, defeated.

Envy then cuts in, mocking their apology. He antagonizes everyone, bringing up events that he hopes might bring themselves to fight amongst each other and taunting others with the things they have done. When they show no response, Envy wonders why his words aren't affecting any of them. Edward looks at him, pointing out Envy's envy of humans. Ed goes on to explain that, even though humans are weak and sometimes they fail, humans always have their friends to help them up. Whilst Homunculi don't have such a comfort. Envy frees himself of Edward and falls to the ground. Riza is about to shoot, but Scar stops her, pointing out that Envy doesn't have much time left. Envy comments on how pathetic he seems, on their "mocking nature", and how Edward, the one that he despises the most, is the only one that understands how he truly feels. He pulls out his Philosopher's stone and disintegrates, bidding Edward a tearful farewell.

In Chapter 99, Ed's group finds the Doctor Alchemist, who sends candidates for the title of Führer, but could not take the power of the Stone. They quickly over power Ed and his party. The Doctor then calls five of the Führer Dolls, having each of them stand in one of the small circle in the larger transmutation circle. This creates a very large transmutation circle all around Central and several large eyes and the Black Hands from the Gate of Truth appear around Ed, Al and Izumi. The Hands then drag the three of them down into the eyes.

Ed, Al and Izumi are then shown to have been brought to Father, who has overpowered Van Hohenheim and has attempted to steal his Philosopher's Stone. Father then announces to them that they are already dead. While Ed tries to wake up Alphonse who was unconscious at the time, Mustang and Pride suddenly teleport into Father's lair. Ed then asks how Mustang got into the lair, when Roy tells him that he went through the Gate. Upon hearing this, Ed immediately begins looking for any missing body parts, when Mustang asks why the whole room is pitch black. Ed and the others suddenly realize that Roy has in fact lost his eyesight. Shortly after this, May Chang somehow breaks into the lair and Al regains consciousness. With May engaging Father in combat, Ed and Al then decide to take on Pride together, glad that they can still use alchemy to attack. When Ed and Al both attempt to strike Pride, instead of using his shadows to dodge and counterattack which he normally does, he simply jumps to dodge, which surprises them both. When May is critically injured by Father, Ed asks Al to help her while he takes on Pride. As they fight, Ed asks why Pride is fighting with weaker shadows than going all-out. Pride tells him not to misunderstand as he needs him alive to fulfill his role. Knowing that Pride won't kill Ed, Ed boasts that if it's going to be like that then he kill him and the others no problem. But Pride tells Edward that since he's been fighting big people, he has know idea how to fight someone smaller than him, while he uses his shadows to nearly incapacitated Ed. But to his surprise, Ed fends off Pride's shadows with his automail arm, coming close to decapitating the latter. Ed admits that he has been fighting opponents that are bigger than him, which means he knows how short people fight. Ed grabs a hold of Pride and head-butts him on the head, to which disintegrates the right eye area of his face. Edward's fight with Pride is cut short when Father assembles the five sacrifices in order to open "The World's Gate" as one can obtain enormous power. But Greed then shows up and cuts down Father for he says "The world belongs to me!". But by surprise, Father is still alive and still intends to open the gate. After the skirmish, Ed, Al, Izumi, Greed/Ling, May, Hohenheim, and Roy are seen alive with Roy saying that it's quiet all of a sudden. Hearing this, Ed looks around if Father had made the people of Amestris into a Philosopher Stone, which Father admits that he did, to Ed's shock as he looks at the smoke where Father is in. He tells them that in order to contain God within himself required a massive amount of energy, which the people of this country provided. Now both they and God reside within him. And as the smoke clears, Father gains a new form that resembles Ed and goes to saying "And I have you to thank for that my friends", much to everyone's shock.

The Final Fight and New Beginnings
Ed, Al, Hohenheim, Izumi, Roy, Ling/Greed, and May witness Father in his new form that contains "God" within him. Father thanks them for their help and goes to disposing them with a column of energy, but is stopped by Hohenheim's power of the Philosopher stone. Father is impressed that Hohenheim can stop his attack despite that he has nearly half a million souls within him, but tells the latter that his true enemy is time. He then goes to destroying the floor that Ed and the others are standing in. Fortunately, May saves them with her Xing Alchemy as she states "The more power there is in the ground, the more I have at my disposal." Father resorts to creating a sun in his hand to finish them off, but suddenly feels a sudden pull from his body. Hohenheim explains to Father that the souls of Amestris do not belong to him yet and that he planted each of the stones within the earth's soil in order to begin their counterattack on Father. With the Reversal Nationwide Transmutation Circle completed, Ed, Al, Izumi, and everyone else have finally regained their alchemy, with Ed proclaiming that their counterattack has now begun.



Hohenheim encourages everyone to keep fighting as "every tiny fraction of the stone's power used to fight them pushes him closer to breaking point", although he isn't sure how much it will take. But as the rest of the party pursues Father upward as he harvests more stones, Pride restrains Edward with the intent to steal his body, as his own "container" is on the verge of destruction. Ed asks why does the homunculus follow Father in the first place, and Pride responds, "What child doesn't listen to what his parent tells him." Ed tells him that Father doesn't care what happens to him, and that Greed is more of an evolved human than a homunculus. Pride continues to try to overtake Ed's body until Kimblee's soul intervenes. Ed takes this opportunity and turns himself into a Philosopher's stone, invading Pride and destroying his "container" body, reducing him to his true, fetus-like form. He then places Pride's true form on his coat and follows the others up to Father, in time to be hit with the full force of Father's attack.

After he recovers, Edward begins to fight against Father along with the rest of his friends. None of their attacks do any damage to Father, as he uses the Philosopher's Stones that he has to create a shield to defend himself. His supply decreases greatly as they bombard him with attacks. During this time, Greed attacks Father. Father thanks him for showing up when he needed more Philosopher's Stones, and tries to take Greed's Philosopher's Stones. Edward uses this moment to attack Father, who defends himself. But since Father had used up too much of his Philosopher's Stones to defend himself, he cannot control God, and a surge of energy explodes out of him.



Although the blast was intense, they all survived, thanks to Hohenheim using his immortal body to absorb most of the energy to protect Ed and Izumi. Ed is stunned by this, but Hohenheim seems to be severely weakened afterwards and was easily tossed aside by Father. While Greed distracts Father, Ed attacks from behind, only to be blocked and cast off. His automail arm is completely destroyed by Father's attack and his left arm is impaled on some nearby rebar. Al realizes that since Ed gave up his arm to bring back Al's soul, he could probably reverse the exchange. Much to everyone's shock, Al, with May's help, gives up himself to restore Ed's original right arm. Ed, realizing the return of his right arm, calls Al a "stupid idiot" and begins a furious barrage of attacks that very much weaken Father, draining his Philosopher's stone supply greatly. Father then tries to absorb Greed's Philosopher's Stone (succeeding, but with the undesired effect of Greed being sentient), and while his body is being assualted from the inside by Greed, Ed punches a hole through Father's chest, telling him to go back to where he came from. Father is then sucked inside himself, finally meeting his end at the hands of Truth.

After Father's downfall, Ed begins to attempt bringing back Al. He is offered the Philosopher's Stone by Ling, though he says his brother and himself agreed on not using the Stone. It is then Hohenhiem offers his last life to be used. Shocked, Ed asks as to why he would do such a thing. Hohenhiem replies by saying he is their father, elaborating it is partly his fault for why the brothers attempted bring back Trisha and apologizes for leaving them. Ed is touched as he sheds tears; he berates Hohenheim for even saying that, finally calling him 'father.' He reflects on what everyone has done for them and the hope everyone has for them to regain their bodies. Having made his decision, he draws a Human Transmutation Circle and does his 'final act of alchemy as the Fullmetal Alchemist.' He is next seen in the Gate with Truth. Upon being asked what his sacrifice is, he points out the Gate of Truth, saying he will sacrifice it. When questioned about as Truth says he will lose his alchemy, Ed says that although all of Alchemy is behind it, it was the reason they were manipulated. He says because they were shown things like the Truth, they believed anything and everything could be solved with alchemy. He then states this is wrong, saying it was nothing but pride. Upon being questioned whether he wishes to be 'degraded' to an ordinary person, Ed replies by saying he has always been an ordinary person, bring up the example of his and his brother's failure of saving Nina. Truth asks one last time whether he is alright with this; Ed replies that even without his alchemy, he has his friends. Truth smiles and says he has answered correctly. Truth then states he has been defeated and for Ed to "Take it all!" Afterwards, Ed is shown the "back door"(Alphonse's Gate) and proceeds to get Alphonse. The two brothers return back to the Living World, where they are greeted with a tremendous welcome by their friends and family.



Later, Edward and a recovered Alphonse return home to Resembool, where they are greeted by a delighted and tearful Winry. Two years later, Edward is shown trying to get used to his new life without alchemy. However, he still decides to study it, as he plans on going West to study alchemy while Al heads on East. Before he leaves, he is shown with Winry who reminds him to take care of his automail leg (which he decides to keep as a reminder of his adventures). As the train arrives, he manages to admit his feelings to Winry, by telling her "I'll give you half my life, so you give me half of yours!". At first Winry wonders what he means, but then realizes that the phrase he used is actually an alchemical way of proposing. She scolds him for using the law of Equivalent Exchange and tells him that instead of "half" she'll give him her entire life. Winry then quickly corrects herself, saying that she'll give him almost her entire life. Ed laughs, and after she shouts at him and asks if he is making fun of her, he tells her that he isn't, but is instead marveled at how she overturned the law of Equivalent Exchange. He pulls her in for an embrace, telling her that he'll be back soon. The two got married sometime after Ed returned from his journey, as indicated by a photo showing them holding young children and Ed wearing a wedding ring.

2003 anime series
The end of the anime series is very different from the Manga. Ed finds out that a person named Dante has been controlling the homunculus. Dante had captured Al and Rose planning on using Al to transfer her soul into Rose's body. Edward arrives in an abandoned city and finds Rose and Dante in a ballroom. Dante sends Ed to the other side of the gate, thinking that now he can't interfere. Ed wakes up in London, durning a WWI air raid. Hohenheim meets him there, explaining that this was the other side of the gate and that he was using the body of a person that is identical to him. Hohenheim leaves Edward to fend for himself, Ed tries to figure out how to get back to his body when a zeppelin crashes on him, killing this world's Edward. Edward comes out of the gate, realizing that the person he was possessing died. Al is in the middle of a large transmutation circle and Rose is controlled by Dante. Envy and Ed fight, Envy changing his appearance to people that Edward knows. Envy's changes don't affect Ed until he shows his real identity, he is the failed attempt to resurrect Hohenheim's first son. Edward is killed by Envy, Al uses the power of the Philosopher's Stone (contained within himself) to heal Ed's body and to reattach his soul. The revival, however, uses up all of the Stone's (Al's own body) power. Al appears briefly at the gate and then disappears. After being revived, Ed discovers that he had regained his arm and leg, but decides to risk everything to bring back his brother. He then pulled Alphonse's soul and original body out of the Gate and reassembled them in exchange for his own life if necessary. As a result, Ed ends up on the other side of the gate, which is our world. He is living in Pre World War II Munich with Hohenheim. Hohenheim appeared to have been in London for some time, despite a relatively short passage of time between his being sent there by Dante in the anime, and Edward's arrival there.



Hohenheim later offers the theory that the bonds formed in the four years the brothers spent on their quest for the stone served as the equivalent exchange in the transmutation (rather than Ed's life, as he intended). Hohenheim also said, in an earlier episode, that one way for the Elrics to reclaim what they lost is to give up what they had gained. The death of Sloth, the Homunculus born when they attempted to transmute their mother, had given back a portion of what they had gained. In Al's case, he loses all the memories he had of the time he spent in his armored form and reverted to exactly how he was, body and all, before the failed transmutation of their mother. Ed, on the other hand, could not keep his arm and leg because he gave them up in exchange for the soul of Alphonse.

Edward leaves to do research on rocket science, believing that outer space could lead him back to the Gate, since our world nullified his alchemic powers.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa
Two years have passed since Edward arrived in Munich, Germany. He has grown noticeably taller and for a while, he lived with Hohenheim who equipped him with prostetics based off automail technology. He later meets and lives with a young man named Alfons Heiderich, who resembles his brother Al, for research in rocket fuel. Befriending a young woman named Noah, Ed found himself embroiled in a conspiracy by the Thule Society, bent on invading his own home world. Reunited with Alphonse and Winry once again, he is equipped with new automail and with Alphonse managed to defeat the Thule society but Edward had to cross the portal again to close it from the other side, saying good bye to Al and Roy. After crossing the portal, Ed found Noah holding Alfons' dead body, now finding out that Al had managed to hide himself in a suit of armor almost identical to the one he was trapped in the anime. After Alfons's funeral Ed and Al decide to find the atomic bomb and dismantle it.

Trivia

 * Though automail has its advantages, Ed is fully aware of its disadvantages as well. When there is a severe change in the barometric pressure, the joints of his left leg and right arm begin to ache.
 * As an avid traveler, Edward codes his own alchemy research notes in the guise of a travelogue. They are so well coded that not even his brother Alphonse can decipher them.
 * Edward greatly dislikes milk, either for its taste, the fact that it is "an opaque, white liquid secreted by a cow" or both. He does, however, greatly enjoy stew and marvels that something comprised mainly of milk can taste so good. It is often joked about in both the manga and the anime the reason he is so short is because he refuses to drink milk. Incidentally, Hiromu Arakawa grew up on a dairy farm as a child.
 * In the 2003 anime, it appears that Edward also has a fear of needles.
 * In the 2003 anime, Edward's seiyu also voiced Armstrong's mother.
 * Though Edward is ambidextrous in combat, he writes with his left hand, likely due to the fact that his right is artificial.
 * As a State Alchemist, Edward Elric technically holds the rank of "Major".
 * In the 2003 anime, although it is understandable that Edward loses his right arm again after transmuting himself to revive Alphonse, as it was originally used to get Alphonse's soul back, for some unexplained reason, Edward also loses his left leg again, even though Alphonse regained his body and both were used in their attempt to resurrect their mother.
 * Though Arakawa has admitted to not having read any of the books in Michael Moorcock's "Elric saga", she has stated that Edward's surname takes these books as their origin. Incidentally, she has also admitted that his given name was inspired by the film Edward Scissorhands, one of her favorite movies.
 * In the volume 2 extras of the manga, Ed is asked how tall he really was. He replied that he was 165 cm (about 5'5") tall. However, this height also included his elevator shoes and antenna, his true height at the time was 149 cm (about 4'11"). By chapter 84, he is shown to be taller than Winry, implying that he has at least attained his 165 cm stature.
 * In the 2003 anime, Edward has a connection to most of the Homunculi:
 * Envy is his half-brother, the child of Dante and Hohenheim of Light.
 * Wrath is the unborn child of his teacher, Izumi Curtis, and is also in possession of his missing right arm and left leg.
 * Pride is the Führer of the military, Edward's superior officer.
 * Sloth is in the image of his late mother, Trisha Elric.
 * In the manga/2009 anime, Edward is - as a direct descendant of Van Hohenheim - close blood kin to Father and all the seven Homunculi (though King Bradley can be a slight exception, as he is a human based Homunculus but nevertheless still shares the close blood kin to Edward like the others). Additionally, Arakawa has jokingly confirmed that, in the manga, Edward is technically uncle to the seven Homunculi, as he relates to them by blood.
 * Incidentally, Romi Paku is the seiyuu for Switzerland in Axis Powers - Hetalia. Switzerland is the brother of Liechtenstein, who is voiced by Rie Kugumiya, the seiyuu for Alphonse.
 * Due to his popularity, Edward won the Twenty-sixth Annual Animage Readers' Poll in the "Favorite Male Character".
 * Edward has consistantly been voted the series most popular character in fan polls.
 * The new Elric family photo bears a resemblance to the old Elric family photo taken with Van Hohenheim, Ed, Al and Trisha, with Ed replacing Hohenheim (with a smile this time) and Winry replacing Trisha. Alphonse and May Chang are add-ins in the photo.
 * Despite Edward having been born in 1899, it is stated in the "Kids" OVA of the Fullmetal Alchemist Premium OVA Collection that Edward turns 100 in 2005. This is likely because in the 2003 series and, subsequently, the OVA, Edward was in our world, which appears to have a six-year difference.
 * Ed and Roy were referenced in an episode of Lucky Star along with two characters from Phoenix Wright.
 * In all versions of the storyline (manga, 2009 and 2003 anime), Ed loses his ability to perform alchemy at the end of the series (albeit in different ways).
 * Edward is one of three people to have beat a Homunculus with little to no help (not including Pride eating Gluttony), the other two being Roy Mustang and Scar,
 * Ironically, the homunculus represents his biggest sin, his pride.
 * Interestingly, in the manga & 2009 anime, Edward does forgive Hohenheim, but still doesn't get along him, whereas in the 2003 anime, he forgave and also started getting along with him.