Episode 32: Dante of the Deep Forest (2003 series)

Continuing from the previous episode, Al attacks Wrath, only for Izumi to interfere. However Wrath responds to her embrace by using alchemy to turn his left arm into hair to send her away and stuff it into Al's body to control him. Wrath then used Al to attack Ed and crush his automail arm. Not wanting Wrath to disassemble Ed's body, Al breaks free and attacks revealing that Wrath is the only Homunculus able to use Alchemy due to having Ed's original arm and leg and his ability to turn his body into other things is his homunculus ability. After knocking down Al, both Ed and Wrath use alchemy to each summon a spear and duel each other. As Winry objects to the battle, Ed succeeds in knocking Wrath down. As Wrath taunts Ed on how he can get those limbs back, Izumi interferes again by creating a tremor with alchemy. As Envy and Sloth watch on, Izumi explains to the boys that Wrath is her problem and she wishes for them not to interfere. Wrath escapes and the Elrics pursue him only to encounter Envy disguised as King Bradley and Sloth using her civilian identity as Juliet Douglas. The two have a talk with the Elrics about human transmutation, which unknown to them Wrath is hidden away in Sloth's body, and once the Elrics leave, not mentioning Izumi created Wrath, the two homunculus also decide to head to their master's place and inform her about Greed, since she as his creator would know how to stop him.

Back at the Southern Slums Scar is pressuring the Exile about his knowledge on Scar's tattooed arm who mentions the lives that are contained within that arm. Rick and Rio arrive to inform Scar of the military's presence in the area. Riza Hawkeye announces that as long as there is no resistance the Ishvalans will be escorted to the official military settlement for them to live once they confirm all the refugees' identities. As Yoki intervenes, hoping to find Scar to get what he was promised, he is apparently shot dead by a gunshot wound in the head. Despite not hearing gunfire, unknown to the Mustang Unit and the other soldiers present, the "gunshots" are actually Lust's "Ultimate Spear", with Gluttony mimicking the gunfire sounds. However, the situation gets worse when some of the soldiers start firing their guns in confusion, and it injures a few refugees. Pretending to be part of their group, Lust and Gluttony's words convince the more radical Ishvalans to fight despite that Scar's Master is trying to keep the situation tense. As the Ishvalan refugees start throwing rocks, Roy Mustang decides to step in to get the riot under control.

Back at Dublith, Izumi announces that she has had enough and expels the Elrics for going against her wishes. The two head out gracefully, but with Winry and Sig's encouragement the Elrics realize now that they are no longer her pupils, they can start a true relationship with Izumi. Leaving the train station, Ed and Al stand up to her violent threats as they ask for information on creating a Philosopher's Stone without human sacrifice which was the reason why they needed to talk with her. Unknown to them, Frank Archer is keeping them under observation, especially due to the conflicting reports of the Führer being in the south investigating the Homunculus, despite that he is at Central Command. Archer mentions to Major Armstrong that he hopes by following the boy's movements he can confront the Chimeras and Kimblee again. Greed decides to leave to investigate something while his men will return to the Devil's Nest.

After Izumi mentions how Al came back from the gate with his memories and bodies, she points out her doubts on how true the term Equivalent Exchange is supposed be, by giving her own mistake as an example. Izumi then asks the eavesdropping Mason to direct the Elrics to the home of her teacher Dante to pick up medicine for her. The next morning, Ed ignores Al's question on how Homunculi are born as they travel and when they arrive, they recognize the girl who answers the door as Lyra, who was Yoki's former subordinate that they met three years ago. As she leads them to where Dante is, Lyra mentions she is Dante's student to improve her alchemy and become as great as her, and also thanks Ed for granting her this opportunity, though Ed notices that Lyra's personality is different compared to before. As the two meet Dante, and learn of her connection to Izumi, Greed observes them and sends word to have his forces join up with him as Kimblee talks with Shou Tucker about Archer's offer due to Tucker also being a former State Alchemist. As Dante responds to the Elrics question about using Alchemy to help people which is her reason for studying it, she then responds to their second question that the Philosopher's Stone can only bring people unhappiness and she identifies that their father was also after the Stone, to whom she also knew.

Dante also inquires for information to Hohenheim's whereabouts, which Ed doesn't care about and angrily heads outside. This only helps with Greed's plans, and sends the chimeras to deal with Al, while he and Kimblee deal with Ed. As Ed begins the fight and finds his automail arm useless against Greed's Ultimate Shield, Greed knocks Ed unconscious. Al spots the unconscious Lyra and heads back to Dante, who is being held at knifepoint by Greed's henchmen. The chimeras reveal they plan to kidnap Al and ask he doesn't resist. Al pretends to use the concept of not going with strangers to get Dolcetto to drop his guard by having him lecture Al, so Al can hit him. Al makes it clear he is not going with them as he prepares to face Roa and Martel.

Episode Notes

 * The title of this episode may be a reference to opening lines of the first book in The Divine Comedy series, Dante's Inferno.
 * The Elric brother's difficulty on talking to each other about how Homunculi are born hints that they have begun to suspect on who was born as a result of their own transgression with Human Transmutation. This subject is brought up again during Episode 41.