Downer Ending: Ed, Al and Winry find out that Maes Hughes has been murdered, and Ed blames himself for his death because Hughes was looking into information about the Philosopher's Stone and those marked by the Ouroboros tattoo a.k.a. the Homunculi, and found out too muchnote However, Hughes had actually volunteered to look into the above, after Ed explained what had happened to him at the Fifth Laboratory. Despite Hughes' wife Gracia putting on a brave face and assuring Ed that she doesn't blame him for her husband's death, Ed, Al and Winry overhear her breaking down crying after they leave. Meanwhile, the Homunculi frame Maria Ross for Hughes' murder.
Internal Reveal: After several episodes of being oblivious, Ed, Al and Winry finally learn that Maes Hughes is dead.
Lying to Protect Your Feelings: Mustang tells the Elric brothers a lie that Maes Hughes retired from the military and moved his family to the country side, so they won't have to deal with the guilt that Hughes died because they put him up to further researching the Philosopher's Stone.
My God, What Have I Done?: Maria Ross has a very distressed look when she realized she accidentally divulged Hughes' death to the Elric Brothers when they were blissfully unaware of it.
One Dialogue, Two Conversations: When the Elric Brothers encounter Maria Ross, they tell her they heard the news about Maes Hughes. However, the Elric Brothers have been fed false information by Mustang that Hughes merely retired to the country far away, while Ross thinks they're talking about his death. The illusion is broken when Ross brings up that Hughes was promoted two ranks, something that shouldn't happen when one retires.
What the Hell, Hero?: Riza gives a subdued version of this trope to Mustang after he lies to the Elric Brothers about Maes Hughes. As far as she's concerned, lying to the brothers (even to protect their feelings) is just patronizing them as though they were mere children instead of fellow militants.
