Episode 24: Bonding Memories (2003 series)

Scar is recuperating from the wounds he suffered at Laboratory 5 in the Ishvalan camp nursed by Rick and his older brother Rio, though he concentrates on his experience instead of taking his medicine. However, a group of mercenaries which includes the former Lab 5 guardian Barry the Chopper attack the camp intent on the genocide of the Ishvalan people, with their leader using a specialized backpack that can use alchemy to massacre the area. While the boys' grandfather believes this destruction as an act of Ishvala, Scar knows it is the work of evil men. Al walks through the rainy in Central remembering his argument with Ed, wondering why he didn't answer and also if the memories of his mother are fake too. Meanwhile Rio and Rick are on the run for stealing food, and during their escape from the store owner, Rick trips and loses his necklace. They coincidentally hide in the same spot where Al is and he recognizes them as Ishvalans. As Winry and Ed work on finding Al, with Ed still bitter about what he wanted to say to Al, Alphonse is led by the boys to the sewers where the Ishvalan camp had moved to. While there Al and Scar meet up, which Scar explains to the boy's grandfather he is not with the military and both of them keep the details of how they know each other secret. Once Al agrees to the grandfather's wish of keeping their location secret, Al learns that the reason for their hiding is due to the State Military's genocidal intentions against them.

However, when Rick realizes he dropped his mother's locket while escaping earlier, against Rio's advice, Rick goes to retrieve it with Rio, Scar, and Al right behind him. While trailing the boys, Scar comments to Al that it's easier for him if Al has parted ways with Ed. Rick finds the locket unaware the mercenaries are monitoring him and Rio who get permission from Juliet Douglas over the phone to find their hideout. On the way back, Al learns that the keepsake from their mother is welded shut so it can't open, and that Rio is very bitter about his mother. Arriving back at the entrance to the sewers, Rick is captured when checking if their was no one around. Scar and Al fight together to get rid of the mercenaries, but they escape with Rick. Al contacts Maria Ross who learns about the mercenaries and where their hideout is. Driving there with Scar, along with Rio and his grandfather due to their loyalty to Rick, Al hears as Rio mentioned their mother abandoned them. As Ross informs Ed what is happening, Rio reveals during the Ishval Civil War he Rick went downstairs in secret while their mother prayed to Ishvala and they witnessed the military breaking down their front door. Rick saw their mother ran away in fear to a room seconds before it blew up which killed her. Rio reveals that despite the locket being around, he swore to protect Rick and never mention what happened that day.

Despite the mercenaries expecting them, Al and Scar use their alchemy abilities to launch a surprise attack to quickly rescue Rick, and while Scar faces against their leader, Al faces against Barry again. Barry taunts him weakening Al's resolve again, and just as Barry takes advantage of Al being knocked down by a bazooka shot, Ed stops his attack. Once Winry reveals that they were worried about Ed and after he creates a wall to protect themselves, Ed reveals the thing that he was hesitant to mention is if Al blamed him for having his soul put into the armor. With renewed resolve, Al fends off Barry's next attack knowing he doesn't blame Ed, and Scar uses his tattooed arm to block the mercenary leader's alchemy attack before defeating him. As Ed identifies himself as a State Alchemist much to the leaders' shock, Barry tries to attack Ed to get revenge for being responsible partly responsible for his Soul being put in a new body, Scar intervenes, blowing Barry's armor in half. The Blood Rune from the upper half of Barry's armor combines with the backpack in an unstable alchemical reaction causing an explosion taking Barry with it, though the mercenary leader barely escaped the explosion.

However, one of the knives from the backpack hits Rick, who survives thanks to the locket and that it forced it open. Their grandfather noticing some pills stored inside reveals their mother had an eye disease that affected her eyesight which explains the boys' rough upbringing because she was trying to do her best despite her condition. When an upset Rio realizes she was looking for them on that day, he quietly lets go of his past hatred of her. The mercenary leader is murdered by Dougla's mysterious water powers while questioning her about Ed's involvement in their operation. The Elrics and Winry say goodbye to Scar and the Ishvalans who are going to travel by water to join up with another Ishvalan group. Rio thanks Al for his help and the two promise to hold onto their memories and Scar answers Al's previous question that he is human. Ed asks about the rumor of a Philosopher's Stone in Ishval, which Scar replies there was interest, but refuses to comment about one being made. Al convinces Ed to let Scar travel with the group since they need him, and after watching the Ishvalans leave, the two talk about their own memories when returning to the city.

Episode Notes

 * Though Scar previously blew off the right arm from Barry's armor three episodes ago, it mysteriously returns undamaged.