Episode 44: Hohenheim of Light (2003 series)

With the mastermind behind the seven sins organizing a plan to capture the boys as well, Ed and Al must convince Mustang's faction that the Fuhrer is not what he seems. The strange reappearance of their father only complicates things further, as we learn he has his own score to settle.. one that goes to the root of this entire conspiracy.

Full Synopsis
Lyra and Rosé descend a secret staircase in an old church where Lyra explains that it used to belong to an older religion that is no longer practiced and once caused numerous people to die in a religious conflict. At the bottom, the Homunculi, Sloth, Wrath, Gluttony and Lust are awaiting their arrival. Sloth berates Lust who is still imprisoned for allowing the boys to escape, though she reminds that her that it is not her mission to elimnate them as Lyra and Rosé arrive.

Though Colonel Roy Mustang is furious at Ed and Al for running away without telling first, thanks to Major Armstrong's gentler approach, the brothers explain to Mustang that they ran because Führer King Bradley is a Homunculus (Pride) and therefore part of the conspiracy over the Philosopher's Stone. They also reveal that Juliet Douglas is a Homunculus as well much to Sheska's relief as she thought that Douglas was an alien. They still keep Al's new status as the stone a secret, however. Mustang has Armstrong work on sending the rest of his search party back to Reole while he heads to Resembool. On the way Ed and Al learn that Jean Havoc and Kain Fuery have already been sent back, with Ed apologizing for what he did. The subject changes to Ed's pocketwatch, to where Al admits he lost it after Solf J. Kimblee threw it at Scar and Red Stones came flying out, which Mustang realizes that Frank Archer was responsible, admitting they used the Red Stones before during the Ishval Civil War under Basque Grand's authority as Transmutation amplifiers. During their argument, Al accidentally causes another transmutation, knocking him into the river, thought the Elrics quickly cover up the truth to avoid revealing the stone.

After learning of the reappearance of their father from Denny Brosh upon their return to the Rockbell Automail house. Al is excited to see him, but Ed is angry enough to deck Hohenheim with one punch for flirting with Maria Ross (and later kicks him in the stomach after misinterpreting Hohenheim's question of whether he still hates milk as a statement that he hadn't grown any maturer). That night, Hohenheim reacts when he overhears Ed describe Lyra as wearing the same obnoxious perfume he has smelled on his father, and Al's relief that Lyra had escaped Dante's house safely (after Dante's apparent murder by Greed). Later Hohenheim has a private conversation with Mustang. Mustang mentions that the Führer is married and has a son in addition to having seen pictures of Bradley when he was younger. Hohenheim reveals that Homunculi originally do not possess their human shape when they are born, and must be fed human lives through the Red Stones to gain their human shape, and that the Führer can likely alter his appearance to make it look that like he ages like a human. Hohenheim reveals Bradley's son is likely adopted since a Homunculi cannot reproduce. Hohenheim also mentions that due to Laboratory 5 having produced Red Stones, it is likely that someone is raising the Homunculus, and having them teach others how to make Red Stones due to their inability to perform alchemy. Al appears and asks why they can't, which Hohenheim reveals because the Homunculus come from the other side of The Gate. Against Ed's wishes, Al decides to spend the night with his father.

Hohenheim reveals that Al's body was lost and it's possible to transfer his soul to another's body which Al cannot do. Al learns about reversing Equivalent Exchange can bring his body back, though Al does not mention Sloth. The next day Hohenheim disappears, and Mustang as he leaves with Riza Hawkeye wants them to stay in hiding while he deals with the search party that has just arrived in Resembool. Mustang also promises to look into the claim of the Führer being a Homunculus. Pinako then sends the boys and Sheska into the basement to hide. While there they bring up the subject of Juliet Douglas, and once Sheska mentions that she started the Ishval Civil War, Ed reveals to her that a special Black Ops group had actually started the war. Ed then realizes that the Homunculus were the real instigators of the war so someone could create the Philosopher's Stone. Once Sheska mentions that Maes Hughes was likely killed for learning too much, Ed and Al are surprised that Hughes is dead and Ed prepares to chase after Mustang and has to be restrained. Pinako talks some sense into Ed that Mustang didn't tell him so Ed wouldn't try to seek revenge. Even though Sheska admits how wrong she was for not trusting Mustang, Ed still hates him.

Hohenheim arrives at the same church where the Homunculi are. Hohenheim recognizes Lyra immediately as Dante, her soul now residing in Lyra's body, and that Dante has been controlling the Homunculi all along. Hohenheim, knowing his body is near it's limit offers to tell Dante why her new body is already decaying quickly in exchange for a promise to leave his sons alone, and proves his point by exposing a part of Lyra's skin that has already decayed much to Lust's surprise. While Alphonse mentions to Winry that the search party is gone, Edward assigns himself a grisly task--desecrating his mother's grave to obtain a piece of her corpse to use as a weapon against Sloth.

Trivia

 * At the beginning of the episode, Lyra discusses a religion that is now extinct in the world of Amestris. It is strongly implied that said religion was Christianity, especially given Izumi's comment in a later episode that the dating system based on the birth of Christ was once used by an "ancient religion".