Prologue
Key Charm, a young Thestral was flying along in the cool night air; her arms spread apart like her wings. She was coasting along the thermals and enjoying the freedom of flying, glancing down she could see the bright lights of Canterlot glowing beneath her.
"Eyes on the sky." She thought, knowing it was good advice. You could crash into a night flying Pegasus of Thestral if you didn't watch the sky in front of you.
Charm stopped gliding and started to hover in place, her keen eyes picking up exactly where she wanted to go; a small cottage a bit away from Canterlot. It was hidden in the valley beneath the city, it was one of the only places Charm could go without having to worry about anything.
Angling her wings, she coasted down into the valley; and to the cottage. The cottage itself looked like it was in disrepair, broken whitewashed bricks and rotten thatch around it. The door seemed to be hanging off it's hinges, yet that's what Charm wanted you to think when you saw the cottage. So no one bothered her while she was working, relaxing or just counting her spoils.
What was inside the one roomed cottage made the difference, the door was a good strong oak and was on the hinges sideways and was quite sturdy, the bricks were whole and strong yet on the outside looked like they could crumble at a touch, the floor was soft plush scarlet carpet, the furniture was expensive; a good sturdy table that was resistant to spells, crossbow shots and others, a few chairs around the table, two recliners in the living room, a king sized bed in the corner, a smallish kitchenette in the left corner, a bathroom with plumbing, and a secret room to hold her special nicked nacks.
It was her home away from home, and it held her most precious items and was protected by the most potent shield spells known to pony kind. Unsurprisingly to afford this you had to be a good burglar of rich, Charm was both and loved to exploit it.
Charm landed on her hooves in a smooth landing in front of the cottage, she stretched her wings the folded them her her back. She took off her stylish glasses and put them in a pocket next to her choker tie, which she had taken off earlier.
She headed into the house, and closed the door behind her; making sure no light slipped through any gaps. Slipping off her hoofware, she ruffled her yellow and purple hair and headed straight to the kitchenette.
I feel like I should describe Key Charm, like all Thestrals she had bat wings and was a grey/blue colour, her eyes were slitted and were a nice amber colour, her clothes were by the most talked about designer; Rarity, and were a nice contrast of a nice purple and light yellow to match her hair and wings; the clothes were in question were a short dress with leggings and included a few pockets in the dress and leggings, her hoofware were dark grey boots with golden buckles, her glasses which were styled like her favourite DJ Vinyl Scratch's, but with a light golden rims and dark purple lenses, she had a choker tie gifted by her Uncle which she wore from time to time. Her ears, unlike other Thestrals were like a pony's, instead of the tufted Thestral's.
"Hey what's this?" Charm wondered out loud, she had spotted an envelope on the table. It had ner name on it in flowing letters. She opened it and took out the letter.
It read as follows.
Charm stared at the letter, then re-read it. "How in Tartarus?!" She thought, staring at the letter.
It was near impossible to find her hideout, and even more impossible to get inside.
Charm made a decision, to get the spells upgraded and to head to Moon Street. She glanced at the clock above the stove, it read 1:30am. Half an hour till the designated time.
Charm headed down Moon Street in her thief outfit, a padded black tunic with a black hood to match, padded leggings, gloves, black boots and goggles. Her tail was in it's own bag made for it, the bag was black and was attached to her tunic by a newly discovered invention; velcro and was immensely useful at hiding her hair colour and keeping her hidden.
Charm walked along, slipping from shadow to shadow as a reflex; not as a conscious effort. After passing an alley she heard a "Pssst." and it seemed directed at her. She turned and saw what seemed to be an Earth pony mare in red and black clown attire.
"Are you the Joker's associate?" She asked, the Earth pony nodded and gestured for her to follow. Charm did so and followed the earth pony into the alley a bit until they stopped.
"I'm Harley Quinn, just call me Harley. You the chick that own's that cottage Mistah J asked me to put the letter in?" Harley asked, quirking an eyebrow at Charm. "Yeah, I'm Skeleton Key. Just call me Key." Charm replied, her wings twitching.
Harley nodded. "Okay, do you accept Mistah J's offer?" She asked, Charm nodded and Harley smiled. "Thisa way Key." She said, and headed down the alley. Charm followed after glancing behind herself.
Charm stared at the unassuming warehouse in the industrial district of Canterlot. "This is it? I kinda expected something more... fancy." She said to Harley. "It's more fancy on the inside darlin'." She answered.
They both headed into the warehouse, Charm's wings twitching every so often. Charm glanced behind them like she had the last few times. "What is it Key? You've been jumpy since we left that alley." Harley said, she glanced at Charm and saw the worried expression on her face. "My wings twitch when somepony is either spying or following me, I think it's the latter." Charm explained, glancing back again.
"Mistah J's got one of the best shield casting Unicorns here, there's not way that whatevers followin' us can get in." Harley said, before she grabbed Charm's hand and dragged her through the shield and into the warehouse. She shut the door behind them.
"Now ya get to meet Mistah J." Harley said, she walked off between two huge crates. "This way Key!" She called out. Charm hurriedly followed her through the maze of crates and boxes until the came to a door which Harley entered. Charm followed suit and before her was a conference table which a Earth pony sat on. The Earth pony was stark white with bright red lips and bright green hair, he glanced up as the door opened.
"Ah Harley you're back! And this must be the Canterlot Thief, pleasure to meet you." He said. "I'm The Joker but I'm guessing you already know that, may I ask you name?" The Joker asked. "It's Skeleton Key, Joker." Charm said, raising an eyebrow at his bright purple suit. She pulled her mask off to let her mane breathe, she shook her head then glanced at the stallion and mare who were staring at her.
"What?" Charm asked. "It's just you're younger than we thought you'd be, what are you? 15?" Harley asked. "16 actually." Charm replied coolly. "No matter! Down to business." Joker said, he clapped his hands and a screen shot down from the ceiling and showed the heist plans.
After Charm, The Joker and Harley Quinn had gone over the plans and mapped out the main way entry and exit it was already morning. After organising what time and place they'd meet in Fillydelphia, Charm left and headed back to her cottage and stashed her outfit and changed back into what she was wearing before reading the letter.
Charm growled in frustration, she was going to be in so much trouble when she got back. She was gliding on the thermals and went into a steep dive towards Charm Mansion. Landing slightly unsteady on her hooves, Charm ran towards the servants entrance and ducked in then immediately continued running to her room; managing to avoid her family.
Diving into her bed Charm pretended to be asleep, her Mother came in. "Charm, get up." She said before walking out, her mother was a pureblood Thestral and her Father was mostly Thestral with a pinch of Pegasus; his Pegasus half was more dominant. Which was why he looked like a Pegasus until you saw the wings.
After about ten minutes her Father came in. "Charm, up now. You've got school." He said before pulling her drapes open. Charm groaned, she had been up all night and had only 5 minutes of sleep.
"Don't groan at me young lady, get out of bed." He said, before he walked out of the room. Charm groaned again and sat up, her hair a mess. "I hate school." She mumbled and stumbled out of bed, exhausted. She blearily headed to her closet and pulled out a ankle length dress and matching leggings.
Charm changed then headed into the dining room and sat down. "Coffee, hay bacon and eggs." She said to a servant and stretched yawning.
A few minutes later her breakfast was placed in front of her, Charm nodded her thanks and drunk a bit of her coffee and ate her breakfast then headed to say goodbye to her parents.
"Bye Mum, Dad." She said. "Darling, be careful. Your father was just telling me a psychopath has gotten loose he calls himself The Joker, be careful please." Her Mother asked, Charm nodded and left.
