The brothers arrive in a small town where they help a young girl who is trapped.  They decide to stay but when they tell who they are they are run out for being liars.  Evidently two boys claiming to be Ed and Al are helping to create a Philosopher's Stone in order to restore the gold that the town is famous for.  The boys learn that the imposters are working with a man named Mugear to create a red stone - an imitation Philosopher's Stone.  The process is causing the town to get sick from the red water fumes used to make it.  Ed and Al go back to confront the imposters once again but the older brother attacks them.  When Fletcher, the younger imposter, tries to save Ed, it jars the older brother into rethinking what he's doing.