Recap / Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood E 18 The Arrogant Palm Of A Small Human

• Everybody Has Standards: Some of the Ishvalans are bent on holding Ed hostage in order to get back at the military, but one of them vehemently objects that they shouldn't stoop to that level.
• I Resemble That Remark!: When Breda reveals that one of the reasons that Mustang sent Ed away was that he didn't want to risk the operation with a hot-tempered kid, Ed gives us this response:
  Ed: (livid) HOT-TEMPERED KIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDDDD???????!!!!!!
• Once More, with Clarity: A brief flashback reveals that Mustang knew all along that Ross didn't kill Hughes, as evidence by an earlier testimony from Barry that she used up her bullet shooting his hand. Instead of burning her, he staged her death by having a decoy made to look like her corpse once he burned it and planted it with Maria's prison bracelet. The real Ross disappeared down a corridor with one of Mustang's allies.
• Meaningful Echo: "And the women [in Xing] are most desirable." It turns out Mustang's words were meant to hint that Maria Ross is still alive. Indeed, her still being alive is a sight for sore eyes for Ed and Armstrong.
• The Reveal: Winry's parents weren't simply casualties during the Ishvalan War: Scar murdered them.
• You Can't Go Home Again: Ross is a bit saddened that she will have to stay in hiding in Xing for a while until her name is cleared. But all the same, she recognizes that in order to protect her loved ones, she can't go back to Amestris for the time being.

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