Episode 2: Body of the Sanctioned (2003 series)

Continuation of episode one: The forbidden alchemy of attempting to bring their mom back from the dead caused the Elric brothers; Edward to lose his limbs and Al his body. They need the stone to fix their bodies to the way they were before. They then manage to escape on being cornered.

Father Cornello shows a shadowy figure, hidden behind drapes, assumed to be Rose’s resurrected boyfriend as a reward for her faith from the sun god; though she is not allowed to see him as ‘his body is not complete yet’. The followers of the priest then broadcast across Lior about the Elric brothers and how they are ‘disbelievers’ and tried to take the life of Father Cornello, leading the town to turn against them. Confrontation between the people of Lior and Edward happens, where Rose then dramatically announces that her dead boyfriend has been brought to life and that Edward is a liar. The sun god statues come to life and start hitting Ed and Al.

Ed is captured, taken to the priest, his pocket watch taken and imprisoned. The next day Al, completely undamaged is shown to be sneaking off with a bell. Lust appears in the priests’ room and warns him to keep the real reason behind the Philosophers stone a secret. Rose, hesitant now of the priest, sneaks in and discovers that her boyfriend has not been brought to life. The figure is similar to a badly formed large bird and can only mimic human sounds. Father Cornello then leaves it to attack Rose, and goes off to ‘take care’ of Edward. Al then comes to save Rose. In his prison Edward manages to make the priest confess everything about how he thinks the people of Lior are ‘mindless pawns’, Ed then reveals a hidden microphone broadcasting everything the priest has said to the people of Lior. Ed then tells the priest that Al is alive and well and the metal form they beat up was not him.

The priest runs outside where he sees the people of Lior have gathered and are frantically questioning him. In order to save himself he makes the sun god statues move and brands it as a ‘miracle’. Edward then extremely irritated, uses alchemy to move the largest statue of the sun god. This display of Ed’s alchemic power stuns the priest. Father Cornello attempts to use the Philosophers stone which then bursts and disfigures his arm, revealing the stone to be a fake. The disappointed brothers realize they will have to start searching again.

Rose then confronts Edward who replies to her angry outburst by telling her to ‘Walk on your own and move forward’. Lust then reveals to Father Cornello that the whole town was ‘juicy bait’ to the real stone seekers. Gluttony then eats the preacher up and Envy is forced to take the priests form to convince the people with one more ‘miracle’. While the people rejoice Rose is left conflicted. A flashback then starts, with Al’s voice trying to tell Rose about themselves and their years of searching.