The Canternet Outage

by tackotopia

Rating: everyone
Tags: Romance, Comedy, My Little Pony: A New Generation, Zipp Storm, Hitch Trailblazer
Length: 3468

When a Canternet outage hits Maretime Bay and Zephyr Heights, Hitch and Zipp communicate through (intimate) written letters

A Canternet outage hits Maretime Bay and Zephyr Heights. Without proper online communication, Hitch and Zipp can only send old-fashioned written letters to each other from their corresponding locations.

A story told through letters and texts, Hitch and Zipp tries to solve the outage while keeping the public calm. They write back-and-forth letters helping each other, teasing each other, and even reach the point of revealing their true affections for each other.

Published 2023-12-18 06:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2023-12-22 07:07:13 UTC

Letters From Far Away

Dear Zephyrina Storm,

I hope this letter sent by my trusted Kenneth finds you well amidst the challenges in Zephyr Heights. Other than the one in Maretime Bay, I've received word about the Canternet outage in Zephyr Heights, and I trust you're managing the situation with your usual efficiency.

Please update me on the status in Zephyr Heights, and if there's anything I can assist with from my end, don't hesitate to let me know.

Regards,
Sheriff Hitch Trailblazer, Maretime Bay

Dear Hitch,

Formal much? Is this a letter to a friend or an official report? We’re literally best buds. But hey, I appreciate the sentiment.

I hope this letter sent by my trusted Cloudpuff finds you well amidst the challenges in Maretime Bay. Things here are a bit chaotic, as expected. I can’t leave Zephyr Heights yet, Mom needs me to help to calm everypony and Pipp down. The outage has everypony on edge, but I’m managing. Your offer to help is sweet, but we've got it covered.

~~Been thinking about you.~~

Sincerely,
Zipp

Dear Zipp,

Sorry for getting a bit carried away with being formal, I never send letters to my friends. Good to hear things are under control in Zephyr Heights. In the meantime, I’m going to investigate the Canterlot building. I might have a theory about a power surge there.

Cloudpuff made it here safely. Please tell her thanks for being a reliable messenger. I'm managing on this end too, keeping things in check.

Also, what did you mean by ‘been thinking about you’?

Best,
Hitch

Dear Hitch,

Investigating the Canterlot building sounds like a good plan. What’s your theory on the power surge there? Let me know if you need any insights from this end.

As for the last part, well, you know, just ignore it. I didn’t write it. Pipp probably wrote that in or something. ~~I didn’t write it.~~

Sincerely,
Zipp

P.S. Cloudpuff is a he.

Dear Zipp,

Before we met, Canterlot used to build machines that allegedly protected us from pegasi and unicorns. Maretime Bay sometimes had electrical blackouts from the power surges that happened when they built the machines. Maybe it had something to do with the Canternet lines as well?

Problem is, the place hasn’t been in use for months. Unless some secret project is going on, I’m going to need to investigate the place right now.

By the way, considering the ‘thinking about you’ part is written in the same hoofwriting as all of the other letters you’ve sent, there’s no need to blame your sister for it. And, you know, if you happen to think about me again, feel free to admit it.

Best,
Hitch

Dear Hitch,

Interesting theory about Canterlot. If there’s some secret project happening there, it might explain the power surges and the Canternet outage. Keep me updated, I trust your detective skills, from one detective to another.

Speaking about detective skills, you really have an eye for hoofwriting, don’t you? I admit, I wrote that part subconsciously. Can we focus on the Canterlot situation now?

Sincerely,
Zipp

Dear Zipp,

As it turns out, Canterlot isn’t hiding any secret project that is causing a power surge. In fact, no Canternet lines are connected to the place. Might have to study the lines and find the source of the problem that’s causing the outage. This outage might take a few more days, so I might not see you anytime soon.

I still want to know about you. How is it going on your end in Zephyr Heights? Keep me updated.

Best,
Hitch

Dear Hitch,

Sorry to hear that you’re going to have to learn the network of the system, I know how much of a pain in the ass that can be.

Thanks for asking about Zephyr Heights. You know how it is when ponies don’t have access to Canternet for minutes, let alone days (don’t get me started on Pipp). But we’re doing our best to keep everypony calm.

I’ve asked Pipp to sing for the public to entertain them in the meantime, but she insists on hiding in her room and crying in her bed for the past few days. So I’ve just decided to perform some parkouring and flying tricks for them, it’s the least I could do.

It’s been tiring lately, doing the same tricks over and over again. I’m not even sure if they care about my tricks anymore. The entertainment situation is tough.

The only thing keeping me sane is reading the letters you send to me every night, and me replying back to them. Everytime I read your letters, I can hear your voice reading the words off the letter. My voice of reason. My voice that tells me everything is gonna be alright.

I’ll admit something. I miss you. I miss having the detective adventures with you. I miss having you by my side. If these ponies didn’t care about Canternet for a second, I would leave this place in a heartbeat. Just to see you again. All I can think about is you.

I hope you get the outage fixed, keep me updated. It’s nice getting some things off my chest.

Take care,
Zipp

Dear Hitch,

Please ignore the latest letter I sent, if you received it. It was just an emotional and exhausted rambling I had during midnight. I feel a lot better now, ~~thanks for asking~~.

I do admit, everything I said is true. I just wanted things between us professional, I guess. We have Maretime Bay to protect, and I also have Zephyr Heights to protect. Would it be unprofessional for partners in the workplace to think about each other?

Please get back to me ASAP. If you’re uncomfortable with me sending you things like these, I’ll stop. I don’t want to make things weird between us.

Regards,
Zipp

Before latching the letter onto Cloudpuff’s muzzle for delivery, she felt a different atmosphere brewing in Zephyr Heights from her balcony. She no longer heard cacophonies of disdain from the crowd, only cheers of joy. A loud yell of excitement could be heard from Pipp’s room.

Before checking in on Pipp to investigate the situation, she received her first notification from her phone in days, answering her initial queries.

TEXT MESSAGE FROM HITCH:

Hitch (9:32pm)
I fixed the Canternet.
Sparky’s dragon fire turned some wires into oranges.

Zipp (9:33pm)
Great work, Sheriff!
Does this mean no more letters?

Hitch (9:35pm)
Yeah...
I loved them tho. ;(

Zipp (9:36pm)
You did?
Even the part about missing you?

Hitch (9:38pm)
Especially that part.
It made me smile. :)

Zipp dropped whatever priorities she had in her mind to focus solely on connecting with Hitch and launched herself onto her royal bed.

Hitch (9:40pm)
You wanna know something?
This outage could’ve been solved yesterday if I wasn’t so caught up thinking about you.

Zipp stared at her phone, waiting for her brain to craft up a response. However, her hoof hovered above the keyboard, frozen. She couldn’t bring herself to type a single word, her mind replaying Hitch’s message over and over again.

A blush painted her cheeks as she tried to shake off the unexpected flutters in her chest. The usually confident pegasus found herself momentarily at a loss for words. The realization that Hitch had been thinking about her, even in the midst of solving a crisis, left her surprised.

But as much as she wanted to respond with something witty, sarcastic or playful, her hoof seemed to have a mind of their own. In the end, the keyboard remained untouched as Zipp grappled with the unexpected warmth that overcame her usually composed demeanor.

Hitch (9:52pm)
You haven’t texted in over 10 minutes.
Did I say something wrong?

Zipp (9:52pm)
NO
No, you didn’t say anything wrong.
The opposite, actually.
I just don’t know how to respond.

Hitch (9:54pm)
Maybe texting isn’t your thing.

Zipp (9:54pm)
Maybe…

Hitch (9:55pm)
Why don’t we continue this convo back in Maretime Bay?
Dinner, tomorrow at 7? ;)

Zipp's heart skipped a beat. A mix of excitement and nervousness danced within her. Yet, she found herself smiling at the screen.

Zipp (10:18pm)
I'd like that. ❤

Hitch (10:20pm)
Great!
It’s a date. <3

The word "date" lingered in the air, carrying a promise of something new and special. Zipp couldn't deny the fluttering feeling in her chest, a blend of anticipation and joy.

As Zipp curled up in bed, reflecting on the lovely evening with Hitch, she spotted the letter she had drafted earlier on her nightstand. In a dilemma on whether to send it or forget it, she would eventually keep the letter, a token to remind herself that it's okay to open up, and to always make time to nurture her own needs, even amidst chaos. Zipp smiled softly, tucking the letter into her bedside drawer, falling into blissful dreams about a certain charming sheriff.

On the night of their eagerly awaited date in Maretime Bay, Zipp and Hitch found themselves immersed in a cozy atmosphere at a quaint diner outdoors. The soft glow of the moon created a serene backdrop as they shared laughter, stories, and moments of genuine connection. Zipp's adventurous spirit resonated with Hitch's detective charm, creating a harmonious blend that transcended their professional roles. As the night unfolded, they discovered that their friendship had effortlessly transformed into something deeper, blossoming under the starlit sky.

The Canternet outage may have brought darkness digitally, but it had illuminated something deeper between Hitch and Zipp through letters. If only Zipp knew Hitch kept the last letter she sent him next to his own nightstand.

Author's Note

This story is a love story between Hitch and Zipp, but it's also a love story for me and Coldplay.

It sounds weird, but I did add minor details because I was just inspired to write this story just from listening to them

Letters From Far Away

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0BwLO0dlpo

From the Chapter title. This is probably one of my most favorite instrumentals from them, just pure bliss. I'm not even sure how this song inspired me to write this story just from the title. Of course I changed it from postcards to letters for it to make sense.

All I can think about is you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtyNoff3e48

From Zipp's second last letter. Definitely Coldplay's most underrated. Definitely see Zipp listening to this when she wrote this in her penultimate written letter to Hitch.

From the Sheriff's Perspective

Author's Note

I loved this story so much, I had to write another chapter from Hitch's point of view.

From the Sheriff's Perspective

Dear Hitch,

Formal much? Is this a letter to a friend or an official report? We’re literally best buds. But hey, I appreciate the sentiment.

I hope this letter sent by my trusted Cloudpuff finds you well amidst the challenges in Maretime Bay. Things here are a bit chaotic, as expected. I can’t leave Zephyr Heights yet, Mom needs me to help to calm everypony and Pipp down. The outage has everypony on edge, but I’m managing. Your offer to help is sweet, but we've got it covered.

~~Been thinking about you.~~

Sincerely,
Zipp

Hitch neatly folded the letter closed after reading Zipp's latest letter. A smile crept across his face. Her sparkling wit and bold honesty never failed to make his day brighter, until he read the line that looked purposefully scribbled out.

She was thinking about him.

‘But maybe she’s just used to having me around?’

He unlocked his phone and glanced at a picture they took together - Zipp flashing a confident grin during one of their shared adventures. Hitch sighed, a familiar longing rising within him. How he missed that grin. How he missed her.

Hitch took a steadying breath, pushing down the affectionate words that threatened to spill from his pen. Their duty came first. He couldn't lose himself admiring a friend, no matter how alluring her spirit.

His smile faded as he dutifully described how he planned to solve the outage in Maretime Bay. Still, a small part of him yearned to unveil his true thoughts to Zipp, but afraid she didn’t feel the same way.

Hitch was abruptly awoken by the incessant knocking on the station’s door at nearly 1 a.m. in the morning. Despite being disgruntled, he calmed and prepared himself to answer any complaints about the outage to the angry pony outside.

As he opened the door, he saw no pony outside, but Cloudpuff, sending another one of Zipp’s letters. Releasing the letter from the Pomeranian’s muzzle and thanking him for a job well done, he read the contents of her letter.

Dear Hitch,

Sorry to hear that you’re going to have to learn the network of the system, I know how much of a pain in the ass that can be.

Thanks for asking about Zephyr Heights. You know how it is when ponies don’t have access to Canternet for minutes, let alone days (don’t get me started on Pipp). But we’re doing our best to keep everypony calm.

I’ve asked Pipp to sing for the public to entertain them in the meantime, but she insists on hiding in her room and crying in her bed for the past few days. So I’ve just decided to perform some parkouring and flying tricks for them, it’s the least I could do.

It’s been tiring lately, doing the same tricks over and over again. I’m not even sure if they care about my tricks anymore. The entertainment situation is tough.

The only thing keeping me sane is reading the letters you send to me every night, and me replying back to them. Everytime I read your letters, I can hear your voice reading the words off the letter. My voice of reason. My voice that tells me everything is gonna be alright.

I’ll admit something. I miss you. I miss having the detective adventures with you. I miss having you by my side. If these ponies didn’t care about Canternet for a second, I would leave this place in a heartbeat. Just to see you again. All I can think about is you.

I hope you get the outage fixed, keep me updated. It’s nice getting some things off my chest.

Take care,
Zipp

Hitch's breath caught at her confession - not only had she been thinking about him, she’d been missing him too. He read it again and again, scarcely believing his eyes.

Could she possibly return the fondness he'd secretly hid from her? The fondness that made him linger over her letters into the late hours, that quickened his pulse whenever she grinned at him playfully?

He itched to respond to reciprocate his feelings for her. But uncertainty held him back. What if she regretted that admission? He couldn't risk their precious bond.

In the end, he would just text her back the next day, when he finally fixed the outage problem. But what wondrous dreams those words inspired as he laid in bed that night.

TEXT MESSAGE TO ZIPP:

Hitch (9:32pm)
I fixed the Canternet.
Sparky’s dragon fire turned some wires into oranges.

Zipp (9:33pm)
Great work, Sheriff!
Does this mean no more letters?

Hitch grinned down at his phone, lighting up with Zipp's witty banter. Her vibrant spirit never failed to make him chuckle, even in the exhaustion following this outage ordeal.

Though the rational part of him knew their duty came first, a whisper of longing stirred as he typed his reply, admitting how much he cherished her letters. Would she notice the hidden meaning in his words? That it was her fiery spirit he missed most of all?

Hitch (9:35pm)
Yeah...
I loved them tho. ;(

Zipp (9:36pm)
You did?
Even the part about missing you?

Hitch (9:38pm)
Especially that part.
It made me smile. :)

….

Hitch (9:40pm)
You wanna know something?
This outage could’ve been solved yesterday if I wasn’t so caught up thinking about you.

Hitch hesitated before typing that text, nerves fluttering in his chest. It was true - thoughts of Zipp's radiant smile had thoroughly distracted him from his investigative duties. But such an admission felt bold, even for their easy rapport. Still, an aching need to share his admiration won out. He held his breath, anxiously awaiting her response.

As the minutes stretched on, doubt crept in. She hasn’t answered in over 10 whole minutes, and doubt started to creep in. Had he overstepped her boundaries?

Hitch (9:52pm)
You haven’t texted in over 10 minutes.
Did I say something wrong?

Zipp (9:52pm)
NO
No, you didn’t say anything wrong.
The opposite, actually.
I just don’t know how to respond.

Hitch (9:54pm)
Maybe texting isn’t your thing.

Zipp (9:54pm)
Maybe…

Hitch let out a deep sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing. She wasn't upset or put off after all. Buoyed by her reassurance, an eager hope rose within him

Maybe, just maybe, perhaps now was the moment to push their relationship forward.

His hoof hovered uncertainly over the phone screen as he debated asking Zipp to dinner. Of course he wished to see her, to bask in her charming appearance. Yet doubt held him back. What if she still only saw him as a colleague? He couldn't bear losing the special connection they'd built.

Hitch remembered that photo on his phone, and warmth flooded through him. No, he had to take this chance. Zipp was well worth the risk. Before he could second-guess himself further, he rapidly typed out an invitation, adding a wink emoji in an attempt at playful charm.

His breath caught as he pressed send. His heart was still pounding with anticipation. But his admiration for her tenacious soul compelled him forward. He could only hope she felt the same spark of possibility between them that he did. Now, he eagerly awaited her reply, praying she would gift him the honor of her presence tomorrow evening.

Hitch (9:55pm)
Why don’t we continue this convo back in Maretime Bay?
Dinner, tomorrow at 7? ;)

Hitch stared at his phone, willing Zipp's response to appear. But only deafening silence followed his dinner invitation.

As the minutes crawled by, nerves twisted his stomach. Maybe asking her out had been too bold on his part. What if she was horrified at the notion of them becoming more than friends and colleagues?

Hitch anxiously ran a hoof through his mane, doubts assailing him. Fear of losing even the passionate friendship they shared paralyzed him.

The phone screen remained cruelly dark. With each passing moment, Hitch’s spirits sank lower. His confidence from earlier evaporated. Asking Zipp to dinner seemed foolishly presumptuous in hindsight. Perhaps she was crafting a gentle rejection, or worse, choosing to ignore his invitation and ghost him completely. Dejected, Hitch considered resigning himself to merely colleagues. The heavy silence surrounding him only fed him thoughts that he’d aimed too high by dreaming of winning Zipp’s heart.

NEW TEXT MESSAGE FROM ZIPP:

Zipp (10:18pm)
I'd like that. ❤

Hitch (10:20pm)
Great!
It’s a date. <3

Hitch's heart swelled as he read Zipp's text accepting his dinner invitation. The heart emoji sparkled up at him, a symbol of the affection between them. He would never have dared dream that this bold, captivating, beautiful mare would ever reciprocate his admiration. Yet now, miraculously, she had accepted a date with him.

Overcome by elation, Hitch clutched the phone to his chest. The promise of dinner together tomorrow night filled him with nervous excitement. He yearned to sweep Zipp off her hooves, to show her through tender affection how deeply he treasured her. The date marked a new chapter - perhaps their story need no longer be defined by duty alone.

As Hitch curled up in his makeshift bed, reflecting on the lovely evening with Zipp, he spotted the letter that Zipp had sent yesterday in the dead of night. A letter he would cherish and never let go. He would keep it as a token to remind himself that someone was always going to be there for him, even if it seemingly felt that the world was against him. Hitch smiled softly, as he carefully placed the letter into his work desk drawer, preserving its perfect condition.

As he eventually drifted off to sleep, he imagined sharing more of his heart with Zipp, no longer restrained by duty or propriety. Today marked the first step on the journey towards an intimate bond unmatched. Hitch's heart overflowed with hope that Zipp might be ‘the one’. For now, he treasured the step they'd taken, and the potential it held.