Ep 18. The Arrogant Palm of a Small Human

Edward and Alphonse arrive at Major Armstrong's home in Central to visit their childhood friend, who gives them a tour of his mansion. The Elric brothers are fascinated by the luxurious and over-the-top decor, including a huge statue of Armstrong himself.

While they're catching up, they learn that the Major has a younger sister, Olivier Mira Armstrong, who has become the head of the military base in the North. Major Armstrong tells them that his sister is cold, calculating and somewhat ruthless, and the Elric brothers are intrigued by the idea of meeting her.

The next day, the brothers are introduced to Olivier and her entourage, which includes two bodyguards who are skilled in alchemy. They quickly realize that Olivier is not someone to be trifled with; she sees through their attempts to flatter her and admires their abilities, while also questioning their motivations.

Olivier invites the brothers to observe a demonstration in which she tests the abilities of her bodyguards. She orders them to create ice sculptures, but one is only able to create small, simple shapes, while the other surprises everyone by creating an intricate, detailed figure. Olivier explains that the first bodyguard had been using his alchemy to enhance his physical strength instead of developing his skills, while the other had studied endlessly to become a true master. She uses this example to demonstrate the difference between strength and skill, and warns the Elric brothers not to allow their own powers to become a crutch that they rely on too heavily.

The brothers are then shown to their quarters, where they quickly realize that they are being guarded at all times. They decide to explore Olivier's base without permission and end up in a restricted area where they witness a group of soldiers secretly carrying out a mission. They are caught by one of the guards and taken to Olivier, who demands to know why they were in the restricted area. They explain that they were simply exploring and didn't mean any harm, but Olivier responds with skepticism and suspicion.

The situation escalates when Alphonse accuses Olivier of using the bodyguards as expendable pawns, and Olivier responds by attacking him. The battle becomes heated, with Alphonse fighting to defend himself and his brother against Olivier's skilled attacks. Despite her arrogance and lack of concern for their safety, the brothers realize that Olivier is a master alchemist and they must be careful to avoid her deadly attacks.

As the dust settles, the brothers realize that they have underestimated Olivier and acknowledge her as a formidable opponent. However, they also realize that her attitude and behavior are just a facade, hiding a deeper, more vulnerable inner nature. They vow to keep this revelation to themselves, recognizing that they will need all the allies they can get in their fight to restore their bodies and uncover the secrets of the Philosopher's Stone.

Overall, this episode provides a fascinating character study of Olivier Mira Armstrong, exploring the complex layers of her personality and the facade that she presents to the world. At the same time, it presents an action-packed battle scene that showcases the alchemical powers of the characters and their ability to adapt to unexpected situations. As the first season of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood draws to a close, this episode sets the stage for the epic battles and dramatic revelations that will follow.