Chapter 48: A Promise Made by Those Who Wait

Before the stunned crowd can respond to Ling's capture of Gluttony, a disguised Riza Hawkeye screeches up in a getaway car. She puts a round through Scar's leg to pin him down and urges Ling to load the homunculus. Edward and Alphonse hang back to persuade the massing police that they have no tie to the mystery driver.

With Scar wounded, the brothers move to finish him for the Rockbells' deaths, among other crimes, but May Chang and Shao May swoop in to shield him. Badly outnumbered, May conjures a smokescreen and slips away with Scar. As Riza and Ling barrel through the streets with their prisoner, they draw the notice of Fuhrer Bradley, who sees through the disguise. In a quiet alley, May mends Scar's bullet wound, and while she is distracted by nearing police, Scar and Yoki quietly vanish.

Riding back toward Central, Ed notices Al cradling what he assumes is a stray, actually May's pet Shao May, which Al tucks into his armor for safekeeping. The brothers visit Winry and find Bradley keeping her company as she recounts growing up beside them; the three discuss her parents and Scar before a call from Garfiel prompts her to resume the journey to Resembool. In his hospital room, Jean Havoc receives his discharge papers from his mother and vows he is not finished, still meaning to return and help his comrades.

The brothers see Winry off at the station, where Edward promises that the next tears he causes her will be tears of joy. Watching them walk away, Winry realizes she loves Ed and likely has for some time. Roy collects the brothers and drives them to a safe house where Ling has stashed Gluttony, stopping to bring along Dr. Knox to treat Lan Fan's self-amputated arm; she survives the added surgery and begins to mend. As Ling rests, the group weighs the corruption at the military's summit and the growing suspicion that Bradley is himself a homunculus. Then Gluttony, sensing that Mustang, the man who killed his sister Lust, is present, works into a frenzy that erupts in a massive explosion.

Riza extracts Ling and the bound Gluttony by car after wounding Scar. May Chang rescues Scar with a smokescreen. Winry heads home and admits to herself that she loves Edward. Dr. Knox saves Lan Fan, and a raging Gluttony triggers an explosion at the safe house.

A dog-shaped charm resembling Den dangles from Winry's suitcase aboard the train. Yoki marvels that May's healing gifts would spare her ever needing a doctor. As May explains her powers, Scar broods over the loathing that had filled Winry's glare and wonders whether his own hatred for Amestris will only breed more of the same.