- This article is about the Fullmetal Alchemist anime episode. For the similarly named manga chapter, see Chapter 6: The Right Hand of Destruction.
Destruction's Right Hand is the 14th episode of the Fullmetal Alchemist 2003 anime series.
Synopsis
Ed and Al search for Doctor Marcoh, a fugitive State Alchemist who holds information the brothers desperately desire. Finding him could be less challenging than keeping him alive -- Scar is drawing near.
Full Synopsis
In Reole, civil unrest has broken out as the rioting by the townsfolk and death ratio caused by the military continues to rise, while Rose hides out with a group of children in one of the ruined homes. Lust and Gluttony watch from the church belfry, mocking the humans' foolishness and predictability. They are joined by the fake Cornello, who joins in their mockery, and the three remark how the people of Reole have completely fallen prey to their scheme despite Edward's meddling. They remark that humans never learn, blindly resorting to hatred and bloodshed at the slightest provocation, and the person appearing to be Cornello suddenly transforms into a new form, revealing himself to be Envy, the third among these mysterious operatives. Unfortunately, this transformation is witnessed by Cray, who demands to know where the real Cornello has gone. To silence him, Lust and Envy have Gluttony devour the horrified clergyman.
While the Elrics are searching for Dr. Marcoh in a small town not far from East City, Envy mentions to Lust that the State Alchemist killer is heading to East City. Knowing Ed is also there, Lust worries as they need the Fullmetal Alchemist as part of their plan. Concurrently, at the bar, Lt. Colonel Hughes informs Colonel Mustang that the killer is being called Scar based on the large scar on his face. All Hughes knows is that Scar's method of killing is blowing up people's heads from the inside with no other details about him. Hughes further adds on about the number of victims Scar killed and that his target of State Alchemists is why a number of them traveled to Eastern Command. Hughes suddenly receives a call which confirms that Scar is around East City.
Meanwhile, Edward and Alphonse are talking about Dr. Marcoh to various townspeople of a nearby village and hear from them of how a man by the name of Dr. Mauro is treating them with the impossible injuries and illnesses that sounds like alchemy. Upon noticing a large mustached man is following them and recognizing him as a State Alchemist from the Führer's entourage that traveled from Central Command, the Elrics take cover and hide until he is gone. The Elrics finally arrive at Marcoh's house, only for the terrified doctor to hold them at gunpoint, believing they came to take him back to the military. However, Al gets in front, knowing he'll survive being shot at, allowing Marcoh to realize what's happening, though he mistakes Al as the Fullmetal Alchemist, much to Ed's ire.
Once the Elrics settle down inside his home, Marcoh tells them that, he took precious research material when he deserted, refusing for anyone including Edward to have it due to it being used in the Ishbal Massacre. Ed tries to convince Marcoh that they are trying to do the greater good despite their foolishness. Al helps Marcoh feel better by mentioning their recent adventure in Xenotime and how they helped the children he saved before. Ed suddenly discovers the hidden area with his alchemy where Marcoh's research material is. The material resembles the red water from Xenotime with no toxicity as well as its ball shaped form having a resemblance to Cornello's fake stone. Just as Al holds Ed off, seeing that taking it is wrong, a small military group led by Brigadier General Grand arrives, having followed the Elrics. Grand plans to seize the Philosopher's Stone that Marcoh has and tells the Elrics that while the Philosopher's Stone is incomplete, it enhanced their alchemy powers during the Ishvalan Civil War. Ed sees it possible to create a perfect stone from the materials, but Grand refuses to let him have it and takes Dr. Marcoh into custody.
As the Elrics and the townspeople watch Marcoh being taken away in a car, Ed remembers this similar issue happened with Mr. Tucker and Nina three years ago. Ed decides to pursue the car, but it is suddenly intercepted and destroyed by Scar. Grand prepares to use the power of the Philosopher's Stone against the scarred man, who easily subdues Grand and slams his hand in his face to alchemically blow off his head. Recognizing Scar whom he saw at Central City three years ago, Ed is too scared to move as Grand falls dead to the ground. Identifying Marcoh as the Crystal Alchemist, Scar attempts to deliver the death bow, but Ed grabs Marcoh and flees with him. Declaring that Ed won't escape either upon identifying him as the Fullmetal Alchemist, Scar pursues the boy and the doctor. Despite Al's help, Scar corners the group in a tunnel with his destructive powers with no way to escape. Marcoh encourages Ed to flee, but he refuses to give up, with the Elrics ready to fight. Scar comments to young Edward about the boy's determined look reminding him of his brother and was at first happy that, three years ago, he took the boy off his killing spree list when Fullmetal originally gave up being a State Alchemist at the time, but it is too late. Al saves Ed from being killed, receiving a fracture in his armor. Scar responds to Ed's question that his reason is the mission to eliminate the alchemists who defy God as God's agent. Ignoring Al's advice about the importance of siblings, Scar tries to destroy Ed's right arm, but fails and discovers that said arm is automail.
The stranger from earlier then intervenes, identifying himself as Major Alex Louis Armstrong the "Strong Arm Alchemist", who was ordered by Hughes to protect the Elrics from Scar. He begins to use his alchemy to fight the scarred man. Back in Reole, Rose, who had been caught by the military, is interrogated by General Hakuro into where the insurgents are since they are trying to liberate the town from Cornello. Rose bravely responds it is their home to rebuild and repeats what Ed said before he left about making good use of their legs.
After the Elrics and Marcoh escape from the tunnel, Ed gives the red stone back to Marcoh, seeing he and the townsfolk deserve it more. Ed decides they need to flee to somewhere far away from both Scar and the state military.
Episode Notes
- This episode is adapted from content in Chapter 6: The Right Hand of Destruction, Chapter 7: After the Rain and Chapter 8: The Road of Hope.
- This is the first episode of the second season.
- In the English dub of this episode, Robert McCollum substitutes for Phil Parsons as General Hakuro. Bizarrely, Parsons is still listed as his character, inferring that this replacement was a last minute decision.
See also
| Fullmetal Alchemist 2003 Anime episodes | |
|---|---|
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | |