Bluebird's Illusion Guide

When mom closed her eyes
And let go of my hand,
From that point, I felt the bluebird in my life had flown away forever,
Never to return...

But...
When I grasped Al's warm hand again,
And saw his gentle smile once more,
I suddenly felt I was within the blue skies,
And saw a glimpse of the bluebird...

I have nothing more I can hope for...
I just wish...I just wish we can always be like this --
Wishing all this will never disappear...
I only wish that bluebird...

...won't be just another unattainable illusion.


In order to gain something, one must give something of the same value.
This is alchemy's first law of equivalent exchange.

At that time, we believed that to be the world's one and only truth.

If one does not make a sacrifice, nothing can be accomplished....

 

-- extract from the first day, Ed's monologue.

 

Al: Brother!
Ed: Zzzzzz.......!
Al: Brother, wake up!
Ed: Zzzzzz.....zzzz....
Al: Brother, stop sleeping!
Ed: Hnnng....
Al: Brother! It's morning already - wake up!
Ed: No......tired....zzzz....five more minutes.....five more minutes....Zzzzzz.....
Al: What 'five more minutes'-- you've already said that six times already! Get up! Do you want to be late?
Ed: Agghhh......what are you doing, Al?! Who cares if I'm late.....Zzzz....I don't want to go to that kind of place....zzzzz.....
Al: But Brother! Today's your first day as Colonel....at least act like one...
Ed: (I don't want to be that kind of thing.....)
Al: Okay, Brother! Don't waste anymore time! Breakfast is ready, don't let it be cold!
Ed: Okay.....*walks off*
Al: "Brother!"
Ed: "...what?"
Al: "Go brush your teeth and wash your face first!"
Ed: "I know....I know....let go of me first!" (What kind of attitude is this, doing this to your older brother...)

Al then comments on how Ed's pyjamas suit him and tells him to quickly brush his teeth and eat breakfast.

"Uggh.....I don't want to go to that place...don't want to see that useless...." *walks away*

During breakfast, Al chides Ed for not drinking his milk. "Brother, you're not a little kid anymore - how can you be such a picky eater?"

Ed replies, saying "This isn't a matter of being a picky eater! That white stuff that comes out from a cow...how can I drink it?!"

"But milk is very nutritious! And...it's because you don't drink milk, that's why you're so short!"

"I said I'm not drinking it! Anyway, I'm like this [short] not because of milk, but because the automail's too heavy!"

"....Brother....I've always wanted to ask you....why is it my body is restored, but Brother....you..."

In the background, Ed's attempting to put his uniform on and can't hear him. Al decides to help. Afterwards, Ed's in his uniform [though he seems dissatisfied with it for some reason]. Al's proud and says he's now an "adult". Ed laughs and says the correct word should be "very important person". [Note: the Chinese word for "adult" is "‘å�l"; if you add "•¨" at the end, it's a different meaning ("very important person"). Ed is playing on words.]

As Ed leaves home, Al suddenly gets pains and knows there's something wrong with him.

 

Meanwhile, a car comes to pick Ed up. It's Havoc, Hawkeye and Roy. Roy tells him to get in quickly, "or are you trying to make us all late, my dearest Fullmetal?" Ed gets pissed. In the car, everyone's silent. Roy breaks the ice. "Hey, what's this? Being promoted on the first day and you have that kind of expression? Did you argue with your little brother?"

"We never argue!"

"Oh? So you're dissatisfied with the Fuhrer's decision then?" [to make Ed a Colonel]

"Dissatisfied....so what if I am? I'm pretty sure that compared to me, you have more things you're dissatisfied with!"

"Me? Need you even ask -- if you want more, you have to sacrifice more. Isn't that the law of "equivalent exchange", a principle you and I know?"

"Equivalent exchange.....is that really so?"





At Central Headquarters, Ed's moping over having to do menial work. "Ughh.....no way.....I really have to do this kind of thing!" He goes into the Fuhrer's office and sees Roy handing in a report relating to news of the South. The Fuhrer praises him and asks him to stay for tea.

Shifting to another scene, two anonymous soldiers are talking about Ed. They're amazed at him becoming a State Alchemist at 12, and that he's now Colonel despite being only 17. We learn he's just been formally admitted to the military. This makes him the youngest Colonel in the history of Amsteris. "He is truely a genius! And now he's even one of the Fuhrer's most trusted men."

"But....he's still a child."

"Oh! He's coming!"

Ed walks down the corridor and meets Hawkeye. "Edward....no, Colonel Elric!"



"Lieutenant Hawkeye!"
"This is...why are you carrying a teapot and tea cups?"
"Sigh....it's that guy....saying stuff about this being part of my job as the Fuhrer's secretary!"
"Was it the General? He told you to make tea?"
"Who else would do such a thing?! The Fuhrer asked him to stay for tea....it could've been sent here easily by the other department....but that guy said as the Fuhrer's secretary I should get it myself in case something wrong happened...You know, the Fuhrer has so many documents, and I've been doing this for 2 hours yet I still haven't managed to separate them accordingly..."



"Wait....so your job is to organize the documents? Aren't you supposed to..."
"Oh! I can't let them wait too long! I need to go now! Bye!"
"Edw-- good....good bye!"

When Ed's out of sight, Hawkeye says to herself, "So he's really only a secretary...."



In the Fuhrer's room, Roy's having a good time making fun of Ed. "Speaking of which, this is the first time I've had the opportunity to drink Colonel Elric's tea! But it seems the taste isn't quite enough..."

"Well I apologize! I'm not the one who made the tea! It was those people at the other department..."
"Oh, that's true. It's not like you could brew such wonderful tea!"
"Re...really...."

King Bradley says, "If I'm not mistaken, Colonel Elric used to work under you."
Roy: "Yes."
King Bradley: "Then what kind of things did he do?"
Roy: "Well....generally, he'd be sent around the country to investigate the administration of other officials. As you can see, his young appearance is the best form of undercover!"
Ed: "........."



Roy: "Those officials would always show off in front of him, and if there was anything fishy, he'd be sure to go to the bottom of it! He's a rather good subordinate - a valuable asset!"

When Roy leaves, Ed thinks to himself, Why am I even here...



"It seems General Mustang thinks highly of you!"
"Really..."
"But...I think he's quite a valuable asset too; being able to become General in his early thirties."
"Re....really..."
"Have you considered that matter yet? I assume you've already done the preparations?"
"I....I understand!"




After Ed leaves the room, King Bradley says to himself, "It seems...the wait is about to end..."


During lunch, Ed's tired and meets Havoc in the corridor. Havoc tells him Hawkeye wants to notify him he has a visitor. Ed goes to the break room and sees Al socializing with Fury, Breda and Farman. He brought biscuits for Ed. Ed has a weird expression.



"Al...don't tell me you came all the way to Central Headquarters to give me biscuits?"
"Of course not. Central Headquarters isn't a market place, nor is it a place where you can come in and out as you please! Brother, you forgot to bring your silver watch when you went out this morning! I just came over to give it to you! Without Lieutenant Hawkeye's help, I wouldn't be able to get in at all!"
"What....I'm sorry!!!"
"Brother....you're really....I'll help you put it on..."


Afterwards, Al remarks he hasn't seen Hawkeye and the rest for a long time already, and that this is a good opportunity. In the background, Breda says, "I really never thought Alphonse would be taller than Edward!"

Fury: "But don't they have a one age difference?"
Breda: "But he should've stopped growing at that time..."

Ed's shocked. Al asks what's the matter, but he suddenly smiles and says he has work to do. Al leaves.

Back in the Fuhrer's office, Ed's feeling insecure. He wonders if something went wrong. King Bradley enters and asks whether he's alright and how Al's body is. Ed says everything is alright. King Bradley asks him to bring a document over to Roy's office, and to pass a message that he'll let him take care of "that incident".

At Roy's office, Ed gives him the document and passes the message. As he's about to leave, Roy asks after Alphonse. Ed says he's fine, but Roy doesn't seem to be so sure.






At the end of the day, King Bradley tells Ed he can leave. He adds "the preparations for that matter are about to be completed. When can you formally start your work?"

Ed looks afraid and says, "I....I still have some things....I haven't prepared for....please give me a bit more time?"

"No problem! Take your time! I hope you'll be prepared -- so you can start work earlier...ah, I need to go home now. Perhaps next time if you have time, you can come over to my place for a visit? Samuel wants to see you!"

"Alright....I'll go..."





Ed is outside the headquarters and is about to leave. Roy tells him to wait up and asks why he's in such a rush. Ed replies he just wants to get home quickly to have dinner with Al.

"....Can I ask a bit about how you and Al are?"
"...there's no...no need to worry...."
"Fullmetal! Don't do anything dangerous..."
"...........we can take care of ourselves."





After Ed leaves, Hawkeye appears. "He still won't say anything?" she asks.

"Or perhaps he feels I can't help him at all...."

"Perhaps he does not want you to worry!"

"....maybe..."

"Yes..."

On the streets, Ed overhears two anonymous people talking.

Person A: "I didn't realize this city has become so dangerous!"
Person B: "Yes.....how many victims does this make now?"
Person A: "I think this is the fifth...it started since last month..."
Person B: "No one's seen the murderer before..."
Person A: "Those who have seen him....they were killed anyway."
Person B: "But that guy really is cruel!"
Person A: "Just like a wild beast...ugh...thinking about it makes me sick."
Person B: "I hope they catch him soon..."
Person A: "It's not that easy....oh! It's already so late?!"
Person B: "Yes! We should get home now....."


When Ed gets home, he's surprised why Al is waiting at the door. Al says he was waiting for him, to which Ed blushes. "Because....because recently there's been a series of murders in the city....so..."

"You were worried about me?"

"No....no....it's just that...."



"Thank you!"
"Huh?"
"It's been a long time~~ It's been a long time since I've had this feeling....."
"Brother..."
"....It's been a long time since I've had the feeling of someone waiting for me at home..."
"Brother..."
"But Al, you don't need to worry~~ If that guy sees me, I'll be sure to teach him a lesson!"
"Yes! Brother, you've always been good at fighting! But--"
"But...?"
"Didn't I tell you earlier to wash your hands before eating dinner?"



During dinner, Ed praises Al's cooking. "Brother, don't eat so fast! Be careful of choking..."
"Nah I won't......hm? Al, why aren't you eating?"
"I....I'm not too hungry..."
"You aren't hiding anything away from me?"
"It's just that....seeing you like this...your work must be making you tired!"
"Al....heh, you're thinking too much! My job's only to take care of some documents - how would I get tired from that?"
"Take care of documents...speaking of which, when General Mustang was still a Colonel...he also had to take care of documents! I know -- a Colonel's job is to take care of documents!"
"Al....I'm now the Fuhrer's secretary, so..."
"Secretary! Brother, you're the Fuhrer's secretary! I....I thought after you become Colonel, you'd still need to do research on alchemy!"
"Erm....of course not! This is only temporary....I'm not going to be doing this forever! After all, I'm an alchemical genius!"


After dinner:





Ed: "Ughh....I'm so tired...a hot bath really makes me feel comfortable~"
Al: "But having a glass of milk after a shower makes everything perfect."
Ed: "Umm...no thanks. I....I'm not someone who wants perfection..."
Al: "Brother!"




Ed: "I said no!"
Al: "Brother....your body..."
Ed: "Al...if there's nothing wrong, then why do you have that expression! Even if I don't drink milk, it won't make a difference...Look, my body is still strong."
Al: "Why....why haven't you been restored...?!"



Ed: "....?!"
Al: "Brother....your body...why hasn't it been restored?!"
Ed: "That's because.....heh, my abilities are still lacking! I still need to train..."



Al: "Brother....I...."
Ed: "Ah, it'a already so late? Really, I need to get up early tomorrow...Al, I'm going to bed now!"
Al: "Brother.....good night...."






In his own room, Ed ponders whether he did the right thing. "Al....I....did I do the wrong thing..."





Lastly, there's a dialogue [presumably, between Roy and Ed]:


I can't let you know the information, because if you know, you'll see hell.

I've seen hell before!!! (Ed)

This is a doctor called Dr. Marco who lives in the countryside. He spoke to me once...

Hell...?


This time, I don't know what will happen...

Now choose the ending of your choice:

Roy Ending

Veggie Ed Ending

Pride Ed Ending

Tea Alchemist Ending

Brief Guide (this page has no spoilers only a brief guide on how to get the endings)