The Sock Monster

AN: Hey, this is my first ever fic so I'd apprciate some constructive critisim. Flames are welcome too.

Little Al is being scared of the dark and his fluffy blanket isn't enough to keep him safe, so he goes to Ed for protection. Unfortunatly Ed isn't the best brother in the world.

'Ed?' Al asked softly while stepping into his brother's room.

'Hey Al. Shouldn't you be asleep?' Ed was oldest so he got to stay up half an hour later; it wasn't much but enough to matter to the seven year old.

' I'm scared,' Al clutched tightly at the blanket trailing behind him.

'Oh, how come?' Ed went and gave his little brother a hug; he too used to be scared of the dark.

'I'm scared of, ' Al paused, looking terrified, 'the monsters under my bed.' He whispered, as if the dreaded beasts could hear him. Ed smiled mischievously.

'you should be scared,' Ed said, while sitting on the floor, indicating for his brother to do the same.

'The monsters under the bed are real. They are the worst ones there are, even worse than the monsters in the cupboard or the basement.'

'There are monsters in the cupboard?' Al glanced towards his big brother's wardrobe, while moving closer to Ed; he'd save him from the monsters. The elder Elric brother's smile widened,

'Uh-huh,' then he had an idea, 'Hey, Al, wanna hear a story?' Al nodded slowly, he didn't want to be alone in his room with the monsters.

' Ok, um...I'll tell you about...' The malicious Ed scanned the room for inspiration; seeing something half-falling from a drawer, he went on, '...The Sock Monster. '

'There is a Sock Monster?'

'Yup,' Ed was sounding rather cheerful as he launched into his story.

'The Sock Monster is a horrible thing. It lies, waiting, under your bed; waiting for you to fall asleep. Then every night, it comes out of its dark hiding place. '

'Then what?' Alphonse was clinging to his blanket even tighter than before.

'Um..it...it eats your toes!' exclaimed Ed, 'Yes, it eats each of your toes, one every night, until you have none left. After ripping off your toes, with its huge sharp teeth, it starts to nibble at your feet. Oh, and then it sucks your blood.' Alphonse was nearly crying now.

'But, but I don't want my blood sucked,' the four year old sobbed.

'That's why you have to give it sacrifices.' Ed was almost laughing at his brother's distress.

'Brother, what are sacrifices?' Ed had to think now, what were sacrifices?

'Er...sacrifices are socks! You have to give the feared Sock Monster socks, then it won't eat you.'

'OOOOOHHH.' Al suddenly understood. But, wait,' Why do I still have all my toes?'

'Because...' But Ed was saved from having to think of an excuse, by the arrival of his mother. Trisha Elric stood in the doorway looking slightly annoyed.

'Alphonse, shouldn't you be in bed? And you too Edward.'

'But mommy,' whined Al,' I don't want to go asleep, 'cos the Sock Monster will suck my blood.'

'The sock monster?'

'Yeah, Ed was telling, me about it, it's evil and will eat me mommy!' Trisha's expression softened, as she went to pick up Alphonse.

'There is no such thing as the sock monster, sweetie'

'But big brother said!' Al insisted.

'Edward, don't tease your brother,' Trisha's earlier annoyance was now directed entirely towards her oldest son. 'Now go to sleep,' she left the room with Al, who was still clutching his blanket, closing the door behind her. Ed reluctantly got into bed and tried to fall asleep.

Meanwhile a little fluffy green thing, hiding in the darkest corner beneath Ed's bed opened its eyes and giggled.

You know, I think I might have done something similar to my brother. Please reveiw, I can't improve with any advice.