Melody gave the newspaper in her forehooves an amused look. “So in addition to being sinister ponies working above the law, in cahoots with snobbish nobles who think they know better than everypony else, and under investigation for questionable practices, we’re also destroying everypony’s mail.”

She was sitting across from Octavia at a small table in a sidewalk cafe. They were the only occupants sitting outside, owing to the early hour. The sun was just making its way above the horizon, shining through a noticeably shield-free sky and warming the two just-dismissed hospital patients. Melody was still covered in bandages but was able to walk and well on the way to making a full recovery. For her part, the cellist had several small bandages that covered her worst cuts and bruises, but otherwise looked normal, if distressed.

Melody’s horn glowed softly as she lifted the pot of tea towards her, but before it could rise more than an inch off the table she winced painfully and narrowly avoided spilling the pot’s contents. “Ah!” she cried, placing a hoof to her forehead. “Confound it!”

“Let me help you with that,” Octavia offered, grabbing the pot and pouring some tea into the elder mare’s cup.

“Thank you, Octavia. Oh, I’ll be glad when I can do proper magic again. You just don’t realize how wonderful health is until you don’t have it.”

Octavia nodded as she set the pot down. “I’m not sure how complete a story the newspaper article is giving you, but—”

“Watt Sun filled me in on everything,” Melody said. “I just want to see what we’re being accused of in the public eye.” She idly turned a page. “It’s a good thing you all found Quite and the other hostages before the fire spread. I’d scold Agent Scratch for her recklessness, but it’s hard to argue with methods as effective as that.”

“Speaking of Vinyl,” Octavia began, “she wanted me to tell you that she’s leaving the force again to get back to her music career. But, she would be available if you ever truly needed her help.”

Melody smiled. “Smart pony, that one. Musicians often make for the best spies, you know. They’re creative thinkers, usually poor, eager to be part of something greater...” She trailed off with a sigh. “That is, until they realize they can bring more joy to the world with their music than they ever could spying.”

Octavia couldn’t think of anything to say in response, so she silently watched Melody take a sip of tea before she stowed her newspaper away. “I want to thank you two. You resolved my greatest mistake, and with perfect timing too. The nobles are going to want my head for this.”

The cellist glared at the ground. “You deserve better than this. After what you went through, they should be treating you with some dignity.”

“Oh, to heck with dignity,” Melody scoffed. “I just wanted to make sure the job was done. You two saw to that.

“But it’s clear now that we...I’ve made some grave mistakes in running this organization,” the elder mare continued. “Con Mane would not have been the threat he was if I hadn’t built him that way.”

“You had no way of knowing what he would become!” Octavia said. “I’m sure the nobles will understand when they finish their investigation.”

“There isn’t going to be an investigation. Princess Celestia is going to quietly call it off after she receives my resignation letter. Actually, it probably already got there. From this day hereafter, by royal decree, Her Majesty’s Secret Service is permanently disbanded.”

Octavia’s jaw fell open. “But... but... you can’t! You’ve given so much to this country! You’ve defended Equestria with your life! Surely Princess Celestia can—”

“I’ve caused her enough trouble over this scandal. Battle scars mean little in politics. The government doesn’t want to be in the spy business anymore.” Melody casually sipped her tea, looking thoughtful. “You know, it’s ironic. Con Mane set out to destroy the agency. And he succeeded, but in the end it wasn’t truly by his doing. Oh, he would have hated that.”

The cellist’s hooves were shaking and she had trouble finding her words. “But... the changelings! I told you what that creature told me! They’ll return! Who will protect Equestria from them?! We need spies now more than ev—”

Melody held up a hoof. “Hold it, Agent Octavia. I said the government no longer wants to be in the spy business. That doesn’t mean they don’t want spies.”

Octavia was silent for a moment, giving her boss a puzzled look.

“There’s going to be a slight change in the commanding structure,” Melody explained. “The work will be the same, and much of it will still come down from Her Royal Highnesses, as will your paychecks. But officially, we no longer work for the government.”

“I’m... not sure I understand.”

“We’ve been working on this ever since the scandal first broke, as a fail-safe measure. My final act as the last director of Her Majesty’s Secret Service was to initiate Code Pink.”

“Code Pink?”

Melody reached into her bag sitting beneath the table, pulling out a sealed envelope and hoofing it to Octavia. The cellist opened it with trembling hooves as the elder mare gave her a broad grin.

“Ms. Octavia, on behalf of the Pinkieton Detective Agency, I would like to welcome you to the private sector.”