Ep 18. Marcoh's Notes

The episode "Marcoh's Notes" begins with Edward and Alphonse reaching out to their former colleague Dr. Marcoh in hopes of uncovering the secrets of the Philosopher's Stone. Dr. Marcoh, a former State Alchemist, is living in seclusion and is initially hesitant to cooperate with the brothers. However, he eventually agrees to help them after revealing that he possesses notes that could lead them to the information they seek.

As they begin to study the notes, they realize that Dr. Marcoh had played a crucial role in the development of the Philosopher's Stone. Shockingly, they discover that Dr. Marcoh had been manipulated by the State Alchemists, who had used his research for their own gain. This realization shakes Edward to his core as he had always believed that the State Alchemists, especially those who had fought in the Ishvalan War, were heroes.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Hawkeye and Sergeant Fuhrer King Bradley discuss the possibility of Scar being spotted in Central. Hawkeye mentions that she had seen Scar's brother, who had revealed that Scar's arm tattoo was incomplete, meaning that Scar was missing some of the alchemical knowledge needed to use his powers to their fullest extent. This leads to the conclusion that Scar may be seeking out Dr. Marcoh's notes.

As Edward and Alphonse continue their research, they come across a mysterious figure who runs away from them. They later learn that this person is actually Scar, who had been listening in on their conversation and had come to retrieve Dr. Marcoh's notes for his own purposes.

In a turn of events, Edward agrees to help Scar find the remaining knowledge he needs to complete his tattoo and warns him to stay away from the State Alchemists. Meanwhile, Hawkeye and Mustang discuss the possibility of using Dr. Marcoh's notes to their advantage in their fight against the Homunculi.

The episode ends with Dr. Marcoh revealing to the Elric brothers that he had actually destroyed a portion of his own notes, fearing that they could be used for evil purposes. This leaves the brothers and Scar with limited information, but they vow to continue their search for the truth.

Overall, "Marcoh's Notes" is a pivotal episode in the series as it sheds light on the corrupt practices of the State Alchemists and introduces Scar as a major player in the search for the Philosopher's Stone. It also delves deeper into the complexities of the characters, particularly Edward, who must grapple with the fact that his heroes may not be as noble as he had once believed.