Why was Edward given a choice?


I'm wondering why, at the end of _Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood_ , Edward
was able to choose what he would sacrifice to bring back Al. When they tried
to bring back their mother, I thought that Al's body and Ed's leg were just
randomly taken from them by Truth. Same with Mustang, I don't think he chose
to sacrifice his eyesight, it was just taken from him forcefully. So how was
it that this time Edward was given a choice?




Edward was not _given_ a choice. He _made_ a choice.

With the case of transmuting their mother, the ingredients and the blood they
offered was not worth enough to get their mother's soul back. There was no
equivalent exchange. Thus, the alchemy rebounded on them. This is why what was
lost was random.

In the case of getting Alphonse back, Edward went to the Truth with the
intention of giving up his gate (his alchemy) in exchange for Alphonse. The
exchange was equivalent, so that's what happened. No rebound, no random loss
of body members.

It should also be noted that many of the rebound losses do not actually seem
random. Izumi and Mustang's losses are laced with irony. Izumi is unable to
have a child after having her organs messed up, and Mustang (who had a
"vision" for the country) is blinded. To my recollection, both characters
comment on the irony.




Edward was not _given_ a choice. He _made_ a choice.

With the case of transmuting their mother, the ingredients and the blood they
offered was not worth enough to get their mother's soul back. There was no
equivalent exchange. Thus, the alchemy rebounded on them. This is why what was
lost was random.

In the case of getting Alphonse back, Edward went to the Truth with the
intention of giving up his gate (his alchemy) in exchange for Alphonse. The
exchange was equivalent, so that's what happened. No rebound, no random loss
of body members.

It should also be noted that many of the rebound losses do not actually seem
random. Izumi and Mustang's losses are laced with irony. Izumi is unable to
have a child after having her organs messed up, and Mustang (who had a
"vision" for the country) is blinded. To my recollection, both characters
comment on the irony.

