Ah, December the most favourite time of year Christmas was fast approaching, all of the defenders were positively filled with Christmas cheer...Well apart from one defender.

Thorne was grumbling to himself no matter what type of holiday it was he always said he hated it, every year he would always complain, on Valentines day he complained about it being too mushy, at Easter he said that hunting for the eggs were a waste of time.

Thorne was currently walking around the snowy castle grounds, the snow crunched with every step he took suddenly, he was hit by a snowball.

"OI, watch where your throwing you green hared freak." Thorne growled hearing Kookaburra's laugh.

"Sorry mate, I was just having some fun." Kook giggled ignoring the alchemists' insult.

Thorne kept giving Kook aa death glare, suddenly he was hit with another snowball, Thorne turned around only to see Tinkor laughing.

"GRRR! Why can't you both be normal, your as bad as each other!" Thorne roared, frustrating with the wacky defenders of the castle.

"Awww c'mon Thorne!" Tinkor snorted with laughter, "It's Christmas soon."

"Yea the best time of the year." Kook cheered.

"Christmas the best time of year?" Thorne retorted, "Bah Humbug!"

Kook and Tink gasped in horror.

"Thorne how could you say that word!" they shouted at the same time.

"What word?" Thorne asked.

Kook looked like he was about to cry, "Thorne, Christmas is special and our family will be coming over."

"WHAT!" Thorne bellowed.

"You know Gildar's parents , Skabb's Parents, ever defender's parents will be coming." Tinkor explained, "Although we will need to make sure Skabb and Gildar's families don't end up fighting like last year."

"Oh, right the results from last year were quite ugly." Kook thought aloud.

Last year did not go so well the Vikings and barbarians ended up destroying half of the castle, the feast was ruined as food was splatted everywhere which took nearly an entire day to clean and on top of that Kook and Tinkor ended up getting injured, resulting in them staying at their parent's houses for a few months.

Thorne let out a sigh as he decided to head back into the castle as the cold wind stared to nip him, when his back was turned the wacky defenders threw snowballs at him then they ran.

"You'd better be lucky I'm not in the mood to kill you both!" Thorne yelled.

When the alchemist was back inside the castle he plodded to his lab, on the way to his lab he bumped into his young sister Shaiden.

"Hello Thorne what happed to you?, you look more grumpy then normal."

"Well firstly, bird brain and little man were pelting snowballs at me and secondly, it's Christmas." He grumbled.

Shaiden looked sideways she remembered when her brother was younger, they always had fun but now that seems to have vanished.

'Oh Thorne why are you like this now? You always smiling back then but now you are grumpy all of the time.' The ninja thought sadly.

"Thorne, Kookaburra and Tinkor like to have a laugh and, what's wrong with the holiday?" She questioned, trying not to cry.

"I don't care, I hate people who don't act their age and I hate everything that involves joy." Thorne huffed.

Shaiden wanted to hug her older brother but she knew he would only push her way.

"Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to my lab." Thorne muttered then left.

As soon as he left Shaiden started to cry.

unexpectedly, Kook and Tinkor ran up to Shaiden.

"Shaiden what's wrong?" Kook asked flapping is wings to get the snow off.

"Yea as soon was we got in we heard you crying." Tinkor said.

Shaiden kept sobbing then pulled the bird and cyborg into a hug .

"Oh you two it-it-it's Thorne h-h-he's changed."

"Huh?" Kook and Tink said at the same time.

"When we were little he used to b-b-be happy but now he's not, I'm w-w-w-worried about him. He keeps shutting everyone out I don't know why." The ninja cried.

Kook and Tink looked at each other feeling sorry for their friend soon they started to cry.

without warning the other 5 defenders ran to the source of the sobbing.

"What is going on here?" The leader asked calmly.

The ninja let go of they wacky duo, "S-sorry Knightriss I'm just worried about my brother that's all."

Skabb walked up to his best friend, "Here." Skabb said holding out a handkerchief.

"Thanks" Tinkor sniffled.

Gildar on the other had rubbed Kook's back.

Once the crying had stopped Shaiden explained what was bothering her.

"Is there anything we can do?" Ballista asked.

"I'm afraid we can't do anything just yet." Knightriss replied.

"Shaiden do ya wanna go shopping with me and Ballista?" Croness asked.

"Oh um, yea I'll go." Shaiden hiccupped.

"Great will be leaving in two hours." the swamp woman responded.

All of the defenders departed to do their own hobbies apart from Kook and Tinkor.

"Tinkor I know we shouldn't do this but we need to find out why Thorne hates Christmas so much."

"Tinky don't know, we could get into trouble."

"C'mon mate something's wrong with him, he's probably got something on his chest."

(In the lab)

'Why did that happen on Christmas? Grr this is my fault they cannot know.' the alchemist thought as he worked on making some slime, 'I keep thinking I already got over this but no matter what it comes back to haunt me.'