Ep 34. Ice Queen

In the 34th episode of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood season 1, titled "Ice Queen," the story focuses on the Elric brothers, Edward and Alphonse, who find themselves in the northern city of Fort Briggs, where they must deal with the mysteries surrounding the military base and its eccentric commander, General Olivier Mira Armstrong.

As the episode begins, Edward and Alphonse arrive at Fort Briggs, only to be greeted by General Armstrong's loyal subordinates, who immediately take them in for questioning. While the brothers try to explain their reasons for visiting the base, the general's right-hand woman, Major Miles, appears and takes them to see her superior.

Upon meeting General Armstrong, Edward quickly realizes that she is a force to be reckoned with. The general, who is known for her ruthlessness and sharp tongue, takes an instant disliking to the brothers and demands to know why they have come to her base. Edward explains that they are looking for a way to create a philosopher's stone, which leads the general to reveal that she has information on the whereabouts of a potential ingredient for the stone.

As Edward and Alphonse try to form a plan to retrieve the ingredient, they witness a strange phenomenon in the sky. The sky turns completely white, and snow begins to fall rapidly, even though it is the middle of summer. The general immediately orders her troops to investigate the cause of the snowstorm and sends Edward and Alphonse to accompany Major Miles on a scouting mission.

As they journey through the mountains, the group comes across a village that has been completely encased in ice. The inhabitants are frozen solid, and the atmosphere is eerily quiet. The group sets out to investigate the strange occurrence, but they soon come under attack by a group of mysterious warriors who seem to possess control over the ice and snow.

The warriors, who are revealed to be members of the Northern Tribe, are fiercely protective of their village and its people, and they are determined to fend off any outsiders who threaten their way of life. Edward and Major Miles attempt to reason with the Northern Tribe's leader, but their efforts are in vain, and they are soon forced to engage in a battle for their lives.

As the battle rages on, Alphonse comes face to face with the leader of the Northern Tribe, a young girl named May Chang. May is revealed to possess the ability to use alchemy, and she is searching for a way to restore her clan's lost glory by finding the secret to immortality. Alphonse sees a kindred spirit in May and tries to reason with her, but she is fiercely determined to find the answers she seeks, no matter the cost.

The fight ends with a tense standoff, with both sides agreeing to a temporary truce. Edward and Alphonse learn that the Northern Tribe's village has been encased in ice due to the misuse of alchemy by a rogue alchemist. May also reveals that she possesses a strange power to sense the dragon's pulse, which she believes is the key to unraveling the secrets of immortality.

As the episode comes to a close, the Elric brothers and Major Miles bid farewell to the Northern Tribe and set out to continue their journey in search of the philosopher's stone. However, they are left with more questions than answers, as they try to unravel the mysteries surrounding Fort Briggs, General Armstrong, and the strange occurrences in the snowy north.

Overall, "Ice Queen" is a thrilling episode that showcases the intricate world-building and complex characters that have made Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood a beloved anime series. The episode explores themes of power, ambition, and the dangers of playing god with alchemy, and sets the stage for even more intense and engaging episodes to come.