On their way to Central, the Elric brothers Edward and Alphonse, who are being escorted by Major Alex Louis Armstrong, are encountered by terrorists claiming to belong to the country's state military. While the Elrics and Armstrong defeat the terrorists, the train crashes with the town of Heissgart. Exploring the town, the Elrics split from Armstrong with the former encounters only Chimera. They also meet a young girl named , who is not attacked by chimeras. Edward decides to chase after she calls him "shorty". They eventually find her in New Heissgart when they save her from thieves and she requests that they teach her alchemy.