Fullmetal VS Flame

Returning to East City to report on their Philosopher's Stone investigation, the Elrics find the Mustang Unit arguing over a stray puppy Fuery rescued from the rain, while Al hides a cat inside his armor. Ed reminds himself that neither animal can stay with them. Meeting Mustang, Ed presses about the alchemist physician Tim Marcoh, whose skill he believes the military would have noticed, but the colonel denies knowing him just as Brigadier General Grand arrives to convert Eastern Command into a temporary base for Führer King Bradley. Ed eyes the Führer's secretary with suspicion. Catching up with Hughes, now a lieutenant colonel heading Investigations, Ed hears Grand brand Marcoh a deserter and traitor.

Blocked from digging up records and hoping to both pass his recertification and learn more about Marcoh, Ed challenges Mustang to a demonstration battle. The colonel declines, but Bradley and Grand approve it, and Hughes proposes the parade grounds. In the duel between Fullmetal and Flame, Mustang exploits Ed's short temper and his fire gives him an early edge, though Ed rallies with a decoy and destroys one ignition glove before Mustang counters with a spare and wrecks the giant cannon Ed built. As Ed nears defeat, Mustang freezes on a wartime memory, and the hesitation lets Ed press his automail blade to the colonel. Bradley calls the bout a draw to spare the field further damage, then sentences both alchemists to clean up the wreckage, the real reason Mustang had refused. In gratitude, Mustang gives Ed a lead on finding Marcoh. Afterward Hawkeye adopts the puppy, naming it Black Hayate.

The episode adapts the bonus chapters Dog of the Military? and The Military Festival, and marks the end of the first season. Ed's suspicious glare at the Führer's secretary, Juliet Douglas, foreshadows later original developments, a sign the 2003 staff were already building their own storyline while adapting the manga available at the time. When Hawkeye fires a warning ring around Black Hayate, six shots are heard yet seven holes appear in the wall.