#penina

Winry is the beating heart and soul of the story, the reminder of all things human and good at the center of this maelstrom of chaos. She’s the moral center, the rock, the basic humanity that reminds us why this world and these characters are worth fighting for. And now that she’s completely in her element, in a town based around what’s she’s devoted her entire life to, she’s finally allowed to truly break free and show us the power of that basic humanity. Of course it’s Winry who takes control once the baby starts coming; as Ed himself will put into words much later on, her greatest strength is her capacity for compassion and healing. In a world full of so much death, Winry is life. And she proves that by single-handedly stealing this episode with every single scene she’s in. Alternatively giddy, dejected, inspired, and above all, determined, she proves to us all why she’s a character worth following.

It’s no accident that this episode is also the first real Edwin extravaganza, developing Ed and Winry relationship through the reveal of the iconic “Don’t Forget” insignia is his pocketwatch. As much as they may bicker and get on each other nerves, they truly care about each other. Ed immediately defers to Winry’s authority when she takes charge, recognizing that he’s not gonna be of use here. But he’s also the rock that Winry clings to for support once the baby is delivered and she needs to collapse back into herself. So when Winry mentions that she saw the inscription, of course Ed doesn’t freak out about it. He’s put too much trust in her to get angry at her now. The conversation that follows is a truly beautiful expression of mutual support, of two people who understand how the other’s hurting and want to try and make it better, even if they don’t know how. Which is where this post’s title comes in:

“You two won’t cry. Someone else should do it for you, don’t you think?”

Ed’s journey is a journey of learning to let go of his fears and regrets, to humble himself from an arrogant alchemist chasing a way to conquer god into a human, just like any other, willing to open himself up to all the pain and joy that brings. And Winry’s line here is her reaching out to him, telling him as profoundly as she can, “It’s okay not to shoulder your burdens alone. I’ll happily share them with you.” Because that’s who they are to each other, even if they haven’t realized it yet.