Episode 15: The Ishbal Massacre (2003 series)

Continuing off from the previous episode, Major Armstrong continues his battle with Scar, where recognizing that Armstrong's fighting revolves around brute strength and alchemy, Scar dodges and counters Armstrong's attacks resulting in his sunglasses falling off. Recognizing Scar as an Ishvalan and nearly dodging Scars attack while in shock, Armstrong realizes that since the Ishvalan people forbid Alchemy, Scar intentionally does not perform the reconstruction phase of Alchemy to avoid sinning himself. Wishing to deal with Edward Elric and Tim Marcoh first, Scar flees after using his next counterattack to cause the tunnel to cave-in. Meanwhile Ed and Al continue to run from the military and Scar with Dr. Marcoh, knowing things are too complicated since Brig. General Grand showed up and Ed thinks it would be better not to return to East City for the moment since the Führer King Bradley is there. However witnessing a group of children playing in the rain Marcoh realizes he's had enough not caring if Scar kills him. Meanwhile, the Mustang Unit surveys the ruined tunnel where Major Armstrong is and just as Maes Hughes arrives confirming Scar killed Brig. General Grand, the injured Armstrong wakes up confirming Scar's identity as an Ishvalan, which Roy Mustang realizes this is why he is after State Alchemists.

When Ed and Al question Marcoh's choice of wanting to allow Scar to kill him, thinking Scar is doing it out of revenge for Ishval's defeat, Marcoh reveals the war was actually a massacre. Marcoh flashes back to how the viewpoints of Ishval's religon and distaste of alchemy lead to the friction between them which escalated into a war when a military officer shot an Ishvalan child. After seven years of fighting the State Alchemists were called in to end the war. Against Marcoh's wishes, Grand decided to use the refined red water to boost their abilities, allowing Alchemists such as Grand, Mustang, Armstrong and an unknown alchemist use their enhanced power to quickly end the war greatly massacring Ishvalan people and destroying their homes as Marcoh watches in shock the next day. Back in the present, Scar continues to evade the military and Marcoh heals a child's injured leg before mentioning he knew two Amestrian doctors back during the war who healed anyone's injury regardless of the side they supported. Continuing his story, Marcoh reveals the final straw for him was when Basque Grand had Roy Mustang kill the doctors for aiding the injured Ishvalan people. Stopping a distraught Mustang from committing suicide by shouldering some of the blame for what happened, Marcoh convinces Mustang to help him desert from his post. As Marcoh finishes his story, he states that despite his defection it was too late, and the majority of the Ishvalans had been exterminated. Ed believes that despite what happened, Scar is insane for taking revenge, including killing people that were not involved with the war as he uses his alchemy to repair the fracture on Al's armor that Scar inflicted earlier, stating how being able to live and find happiness is a better solution than revenge.

However, when Ed mentions going to Resembool where the Rockbells live, Marcoh runs off in out fear because he can't go there. Meanwhile, Scar is confronted by the Mustang Unit. Before a confrontation erupts, Riza Hawkeye knocks over Mustang and shoots at Scar forcing him to flee due to Mustang's flame alchemy being useless on rainy days. Despite being angered by this, Mustang orders Heymans Breda to head to the train station knowing Edward will try to use it to get Marcoh out of the city. Ed and Al catch up with Marcoh just as Scar coincidentally arrives, and knowing the truth about their bodies, Scar easily causes major damage to the right side of Al's armor and destroys Ed's automail arm knowing he can't transmute without it. Just as Ed gives up and is going to allow Scar to kill him on the condition he spares Al who is not a State Alchemist, Marcoh intervenes. Recognizing the symbols on Scar's arm from inscriptions he found in Ishval, Marcoh's incomplete Philosopher's Stone causes Scar pain from his tattooed arm and Marcoh allows Scar to absorb it within his arm to keep Scar at bay. With Mustang's group arriving, Scar uses his alchemy to great a giant hole into the sewers to escape. As Al criticizes Ed for his attempted sacrifice, the Führer's secretary Juliet Douglas arrives stating the Führer will put Marcoh in his custody, which Marcoh agrees with. Before leaving, Marcoh mentions his reason for not going to Resembool is the doctors that died in Ishval were named Rockbell, which Ed realizes are Winry's parents. Watching as they go, Al recognizes Juliet's voice as their mother, something Ed doesn't believe due to their recent near-death experience.

Episode Notes

 * One of the alchemists in the group being sent to Ishval resembles Ling Yao a major character from the manga and 2009 anime wearing Greed's glasses. In those versions, while Ling is a prince from the country Xing and not a State Alchemist, the Homunculus Greed is infused in Ling's body, becoming one with him.
 * In this episode there is a unidentified alchemist that has a few lines. It is not until 6 episodes later in Episode 21 that he would be properly introduced as the Crimson Alchemist Solf J. Kimblee.