This week’s episode is: Emissary From the East.
And with this episode, we are completely with the manga – this is territory the original series never covered. First, Scar is still going after state alchemists. He and his helper (Yoki) find a girl, May Chang, and a panda who are from the eastern country of Xing. May Chang can do an eastern form of alchemy which focuses on healing. Because she uses this skill to heal him, Scar allows the girl to travel to Central with him. We don’t know yet what she wants. I’m not quite sure whether it was on purpose or not – it very well may have been a trap – but Hawkeye is attacked by Barry the Chopper. Barry ends up getting interrogated by Mustang on the activities of the fifth laboratory. Mustang is clearly trying to figure out what happened to Hughes. Meanwhile, our heroes are back in Rush Valley because in the fight with Greed, Ed damaged his automail arm. Winrey isn’t pleased. Al finds a guy who appears to have fainted. He turns out to be Lin Yao, a prince of Xing. He tells Ed and Al a bit about the type of alchemy done in his country and says he is looking for something in some ancient ruins. Ed is rather disappointed that Lin can’t do any alchemy himself. As for what Lin wants, he wants the philosophers stone to become immortal. We already know what Ed and Al think of this. Ed and Al won’t talk, so he has his two bodyguards go after Ed and Al. Both are experts in martial arts that Ed and Al don’t know. Thankfully, Izumi is was their teacher so they not only survive, they figure out ways to get the two bodyguards bound up. They destroy half of the town in the process so the townspeople aren’t pleased . . . And Ed ends up snapping his automail arm in two in the fight so Winrey isn’t pleased . . . Lin explains how he is only one of a number of princes vying for the position of Emperor. He wants immortality so he has a better chance of becoming Emperor. This does mollify Ed and Al a bit, well it is a reason that makes sense, though they still won’t talk. They decide their next stop is central. Winrey decides she wants to go have a vacation there and visit Hughes. Lin also decides he wants to tag along as well, much to Ed’s dismay^^; So we have the major members of new cast additions introduced. Next time, off to Central!
