Volume 2
“Behold! A chimera that speaks the human tongue!”
Chapter 5: An Alchemist’s Anguish LB Title
The chapter starts where the previous one left off, as a soldier is amazed at what he just saw. Havoc asks if it’s his first sight of Mustang’s handiwork, to which he replies that it is. Another soldier asks how he does it. Havoc explains that Mustang’s gloves are made of a combination of Rayon and Asbestos, and that rubbing them together will cause a spark, which, if the air conditions are right and it comes into contact with a flammable object, then things end up like Blood from last time. Only more burnt and crispy. If Mustang wants. The soldier is wondering how that can be possible, but Havoc says that it’s Mustang’s alchemy that helps it along. I love how Arakawa explains details like these, showing off her knowledge in chemistry and science. Even though my limited knowledge of chemistry prevents me from grasping the true logic behind it, it’s easy to understand. It’s like how in Avatar, the Firebenders use their body heat as a source to perform their firebending *
Havoc also says that it was Edward who took out the train thugs, and that he is a State Alchemist to boot, much to the soldier’s disbelief. They sate that both Ed and Mustang don’t seem human. Which is a wonderful way of showing how the kind of impression and how imposing Alchemists in general are to normal people.
Ed is now in Mustang’s office with the smuggest grin imaginable on his face telling Mustang that he owes him one. Mustang is smirking with “Yes.....How.....Unfortunate...”. He sighs and tells Ed to name his reward, which is a source of information that is related to biological transmutation. Mustang chides Ed was his impatience, to much Ed snaps back by retorting “YOU try getting stuck with this and see if you’ve got patience!”. Mustang says “And here I was thinking that we could chat over a cup of tea” . Ed responds, saying “Tea with a GUY? Where’s the fun in that?”
.....You know what? Im’ not gonna even comment on that.
So Mustang pulls out some dossiers and manages to pick out Shou Tucker, The Life Sewing Alchemist. Mustang drives the Elrics to Tucker’s house as he explains more about him. Apparently Tucker obtained his status after creating a talking chimera, much to Ed’s shock and amazement. * While Mustang says that he never got to see it for himself, the report says that it was fully capable of understanding human speech, and even able to speak it. However, the only thing that it said, as shown in a panel displaying the Chimera in silhouette, which seems to be a hairy, bipedal creature with what looks like paws, was “Let me die”. It refused to eat before starving to death. And nobody found anything...Suspicious about this...? WARNING! FUTURE PLOT DETAILS
They arrive at Tucker’s house (Which Ed notes his huge), and as Mustang rings the doorbell, Ed is immediately blindsided by a Great Pyrenees (Thanks Pika Hikari!), as it lands on him with it’s pure doggy love. This is know far to well (Although my dog is a West Highland Terrier so I can’t exactly account for the sheer crushing sensation.....). Tucker himself comes out of the house after chiding the dog (Alexander) for being bad, and tells his daughter that he told her to tie him up. Tucker is a tired looking man with balding hair and glasses, with a bit of a shadow on his jaw. His daughter Nina, is a four year old girl * with some damn long pigtails that almost go down to her legs. Tucker lets them inside his cluttered house (Which he says has been like that ever since his wife died). Mustang tells Tucker why the Elrics are there, and so Tucker asks (Citing Equivalent Exchange as a justification). Mustang tries to make an excuse, but Ed decides to come clean about him and Al, revealing his Automail arm to Tucker. One off screen exposition later, we see that they have been having tea with a guy (Okay, it was probably just Mustang and Tucker having tea while Ed exposited). Tucker is sympathetic to them, saying that it must have been hard on them. Mustang says that his superiors are under the impression that Ed lost his arms during the East Area Civil War, (Which will be explained later) and asks Tucker to keep the truth between them, to which Tucker agrees.
Tucker decides to take the Elrics around his lab, but apologies when they enter as we can see his experiments in jars, including a Cobra/Crocodile, a two headed monkey, a lemur with a stitch patch over his eye, and what vaguely looks like a Blobfish with bits of metal welded to it (In case you are wondering, THIS
◊ is a blobfish) Tucker explains that while he is said to be the best in his field, he still has a long way to go in perfecting the process. He leads them into his library, which, as Edward’s expression tells us, is huge. Tucker lets them at it. Mustang says that he will pick of the Elrics before sundown, before Ed gets stuck into the books. Tucker comments on this saying that with such concentration, Ed probably can’t even here them (Like me when I am playing games). Mustang just says that the fact that he obtained his state alchemist license proves that he is no idiot. We get a close up of Tucker as he says “Yes, he’s what you would call....A Prodigy”. His facial expression seems to indicate a tone of sorrow, almost envious.
We cut to late in the afternoon, as Edward states that he lost track of time. He calls for Al, only to be given the Balrog treatment from Alexander *. Al comes in with Nina on his head, and Ed yells at him saying that he was supposed to be helping with the books, and Al says that he was doing it, but got side tracked when Nina said she wanted to play (This panel is Chibi Nina on Al’s head is one of the cutest things I have ever seen). Nina says that Alexander wants to play with Ed as well (To which Alexander licks the hell out of Ed’s face, which again, I know far to well). Ed proceeds to wipe the dog saliva off his face before saying: “You know how lions like ‘playing’ with their prey before devouring them, don’t ya.....VERY WELL YOU MANGY MUTT!! IF IT’S PLAYTIME YOU WANT, I EDWARD ELRIC SHALL OBLIGE YOU!”. Nina bursts into laughter while Al sighs, thinking “How immature...”. Says the kid who has a four year old riding on his head.
At sunset, Havoc comes to pick up the Elrics, as we see how well Ed’s game with Alexander went for him *. Havoc asks what Ed is doing under a large dog, and Ed quickly gets up and says that he was just taking a short break from reading (Which is kinda true....I guess...). Tucker asks if he found anything useful, before Alexander puts a paw on Ed’s head as a sign of love/”You’re coming back tomorrow, bitch”. Tucker says that they can come back tommorrow, much to Nina’s delight. Before leaving, Havoc tells Tucker that Mustang wants him to remember that the Annual Performance Assessment is coming. We see Tucker with a simple look, yet one that gives vibes of fear and worry *
Nina asks her father what the Performance Assessment. Tucker explains that every year, State Alchemists are assessed on their progress in their fields, which can result in a loss of license if the Alchemist scores low enough. I am sure that’s just for researcher Alchemists as with other State Alchemists such as Mustang are employed by the military and thus contribute in different ways. Tucker tells Nina that the heads were not impressed with him last year, and thus he is in danger of loosing his license. Nina is distraught saying that he has been working hard. She and Tucker embrace as Tucker says that he will have to work harder, saying that there is no turning back for him, his face shown in shadow. Something tells me that there may be something a BIT wrong with Tucker.
The next day, Nina (While resting on Alexander) tells the Elrics about how two years ago her mother “Went home to her family” (Oh boy). Wait. That was the same time as when he made his first taking chimera.....Im sure that that’s unrelated! Al asks if she feels along in such a big house, but she says that she has her father and Alexander to keep her company, but she does say that her father’s time in the lab has been leaving her a bit lonely. After a reading session, Ed decide that he needs some exercise, so he decides to play with Alexander. Al decides to join in with Nina. We see Edward and Alexander playing outside (For the record, it results in Alexander: 4, Edward: 0). From inside the house, we see Tucker crumpling up another sheet of paper in the darkened room, in sheer despair.
The next day, Ed and Al arrive at Tucker’s house as rain clouds start rolling in. The first sign that something may be wrong is the Atmosphere of Ominousness TM. Ed and Al call out for Tucker and Nina, before coming across Tucker in his darkened Lab, a twisted smile on his face. He says he has created his finest transmutation yet, a Chimera that can speak english! Which looks like a dog with.....long.....female....hair......
Tucker tells the chimera to talk and it says Edward’s name, but in fragmented chunks. Tucker continues to pride himself on it’s creation, but Ed is still looking at it, as it mutters more words...But then it says “Bro...ther....Ed..” and......
The look on Edwards face shows that he realizes what it is.
Edward proceeds to ask Tucker when his wife died. He responds, “Two years ago”. Ed also asks him when he made his first talking Chimera. Again, two years ago. (I wonder why Tucker hasn’t caught on yet). Then Edward asks one more question:
“Nina and Alexander......WHERE ARE THEY?”
Tucker mutters “Curse those damnable instincts of yours....” as Ed proceeds to slam him into a wall in pure rage, managing to spell out that Tucker, indeed, fused his daughter with Alexander. MAJOR SPOILERS If you had any sympathy for Tucker, it’s already circling the drain, and the next part will obliterate anything left of said sympathy. Ed yells out that since animals have their limits, he needed to use a human for a better chance of success. Tucker basically makes a justification for his actions that can be summed up as: “FOR SCIENCE”. Ed shoots it down saying that he’s just using science as a justification to toy with human life. However, Tucker says that’s precisely what he is doing, and he proceeds to give Ed a Not So Different Speech when he says that it’s big talking coming from the Fullmetal Alchemist, the person who lost his limbs and his brother by trying to toy with human life! Hey, Tucker? They were twelve, had no idea what they were in for, and were doing it out of love for their mother, while you are a full grown man who knew exactly what the hell you were doing, and did it just so you could keep your job. TWICE. You don’t deserve that kind of comparison (Although he is essentially out of his mind at this point). Ed just completely looses it, beating the everloving shit out of Tucker (which, quite frankly, he deserves every bit of), all the while, Tucker is still going through the Not So Different Speech, until finally Al holds Ed back, saying that it won’t accomplish anything. As they walk away, Tucker begins to mock Ed on his views of Idealism, but Alphonse just turns around and says “Mr Tucker.....Keep at it....And you’ll be answering to ME next” with a vibe of pure malice and fury
Alphonse Elric CMOA count: 1
- Current: Shutting up Tucker’s ranting and showing why you should NEVER mess with him
Al goes over to Chimera Nina saying that they are not skilled enough to change her back, and says “Im’ Sorry” to her. Chimera Nina mutters “Lets Play......Lets Play.....” *.
Outside as the rain falls down, Riza Hawkeye (Mustang’s blonde assistant. I kinda forgot to tell her name 
) is talking about it being “The Devil’s Handiwork”, but Mustang dismisses it saying that as living weapons in the employ of the military what they did and what Tucker did is hardly different, as their powers effect human life in the same way, and while Ed may think he’s mature about it, he is still just a kid at heart, and as part of the path he has taken, he must move on. This is another great example about how Arakawa manages to blend her themes together. Mustang asks Ed, sitting in sadness on the rainsoaked steps, how long he is planning on staying there. Ed just says “Bite Me.” Mustang states that when he walked down the path of a State Alchemist, he made himself labeled as Military Dog or Devil, and that they are using that path to regain their bodies. He asks why they should care about something so significant (HARSH, Mustang. Although like alot of his actions we gain more understanding of them upon later revelations). Ed says that he doesn’t care about being labeled a military dog or a devil as long as they can get their bodies back, but he says that they are neither a god or a devil: “’’’We’re just human beings!! Incapable of saving a little girl!!’’’ We’re nothing but insignificant human beings...!” *. Mustang just says to get out of the rain and get some rest.
Meanwhile, outside the Tucker residence, two soldiers (Who I will name name Reed Shir Thomas and Dean Mett) are standing guard. Suddenly a man approaches the place. Reed states that the place is off limits, and that he will have to leave. However the man holds up his fist saying “No.....after you”. Reed and Dean have only a few seconds to understand why he said this. Inside the house, Tucker is saying to Chimera Nina “Why doesn’t anyone understand...” *. The man from before walks in, revealing himself to be a dark skinned man with sunglasses, short, white spiky hair, and, most strikingly, a huge, cross shaped scar across his eyes. He says “Shou Tucker, I presume?”. Tucker wonders who he is, and quickly identifies him as not being from the military, then wondering how he got in past the guards, as we see the bloody corpses of poor Reed and Dean. Scar pulls back his hand before announcing “Alchemist who strays from the path of god.....’’’Judgement is upon you!’’’”
He grabs Tuckers head and then uses what appears to be Alchemy to basically implode Tucker’s head (It doesn’t cause any outside scars, but blood spurts erupt from most of his upper torso), as his body collapses in a bloody mess. Good riddance. However, Chimera Nina looks at the corpse and then starts droning “Daddy....Daddy....” as tears stream from her face *
The man looks at Nina with a genuine look of heartfelt sadness in his eyes. “Poor thing” hey says. He says it’s already impossible to cure her condition, but he can at least end her torment. Oh, now that’s going a bit too far. I mean, she can get better! There are talented alchemists who could do it right? I mean, it’s not like this series would be cruel enough to-
The man leaves the two bodies behind as he says a prayer to god to have mercy on their souls and to grant them everlasting peace *. As he leaves the place, he takes of his sunglasses to reveal his red eyes, * Juxtaposed with a panel of Ed on his bed in sadness.
........
I think I will go cry myself to sleep now.....
