AUTHOR'S NOTES: Well, this is not how I thought this story was going to finish out when I started!
I have to say, though, that this was a fun experiment in the realm of crossovers and might even be something I'll try again at a later point.
For now, though, I'm going to start working on my Encanto/Coffeehouse crossover and enjoy the warm fuzzy feeling that comes from finishing up yet another story!
Epilogue...
The morning that Sunset Shimmer and her friends prepared to depart Encanto was gray and drizzly as they joined the Madrigals for a farewell breakfast.
Julieta had been up before dawn preparing food for the girls' journey home while Mirabel had spent the better part of the night finishing hooded ruanas as going away presents.
"Darling, you've already given us those two gorgeous dresses," Rarity protested as she set her own ruana on top of her backpack. "You didn't need to do all this."
"They're just to help keep you dry until you get home," Mirabel insisted, a smile on her face as she hugged Rarity. "Mama and Tia Pepa are distraught about Tio Bruno leaving and Tia Pepa is probably going to make it rain constantly for a few days."
Fluttershy gave their new friends a warm look as she knelt down to give Antonio a hug. "We're going to miss all of you as well. You made this such a wonderful trip."
Nodding in agreement, Rainbow Dash gave a fist bump to Isabela. "You guys are so awesome. I can't wait to tell everyone back home about this."
As the Madrigal matriarch handed over a thick volume to Twilight Sparkle, Alma smiled warmly. "I had a copy of our family history made for you. I thought you might like to share it with your princess friend."
Taking the book gratefully, Twilight replied, "Once we get back to our world, I'll make a photo album of the pictures that we took and send it to you as soon as I can."
Embracing the young woman, Alma smiled. "I will look forward to that." Looking at the others, she sighed, a look of remorse on her face. "I wish all of you could stay longer."
"We wish we could stay longer, too," Applejack chimed, taking Rarity's hand. "But the new school year is going to be starting in a week." After a moment, she added, "Y'all have been so wonderful to host us the past couple months."
"And you are all welcome to come back any time you like," Felix assured the girls as he and Pepa set the table for breakfast.
x
All through the meal, Pepa and Julieta kept giving Bruno looks and when it finally came time to leave, he hugged his sisters tightly. "I-I'll stay in touch as best I can," Bruno promised. "Sunset said that she would get two new magical journals from Princess Twilight. I can send one to you so that the family can send me messages and I can write back."
Pepa gave Bruno one last hug before letting him go, but Julieta gave her brother an imploring look. "Are you sure you have to leave?"
Initiating the hug, Bruno promised, "I'm not going away forever. I'll come back, Juli."
"You better," Julieta murmured, hugging him back.
x
Mirabel accompanied the group to the mountain pass and tears filled her eyes as she gave her tio a hug. "I'm going to miss you so much, Tio Bruno. It's not going to be the same around here without you."
"I'm going to miss you, too, kid," Bruno assured her, hugging back. "And listen... if you hadn't helped me return to the family, this might never have happened," he said, nodding to the gap and Sunset. "You helped give me a future I never expected."
Mirabel pulled away, waving goodbye as the group continued down the path towards the river. It was only until they were out of sight that she finally allowed her sadness to take over and the tears to slide down her face.
The Other Human World...
The evening was warm and dry as Sunset Shimmer led the way out of the portal behind Canterlot High School.
"Twilight!"
Looking over towards the athletic fields, Twilight Sparkle saw her brother coming over with a huge smile on his face. "Shining Armor!" she exclaimed, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
Shining Armor nodded towards Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom who hurried over as well. "We thought you ladies might need a ride home. Mom and Dad can't wait to hear all about your vacation. I think Mom's a bit jealous, actually," he confided as he hugged his younger sister. Straightening up and turning to Bruno, he raised an eyebrow at the way Sunset was holding hands with the much older man, but to his credit, Shining Armor said nothing about the couple.
Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie followed Twilight and her brother while Rarity stayed with Applejack's brother and sister.
"A lift to Sweet Apple Acres would be fabulous," Rarity replied, swiftly bending down to pick her things as well as Applejack's.
"Somethin' you want to tell us?" Big Mac asked, looking curiously at Applejack, a grin on his face.
"Are you and Rarity girlfriends now?" Apple Bloom wanted to know as she led the way to Granny Smith's van.
"We are," Applejack replied, squeezing Rarity's hand and hesitantly putting an arm around her waist, making her blush.
"Granny Smith is going to be so disappointed," Big Mac said as he loaded the bags into the back of the van. "She thought you and Fluttershy would ultimately get together."
"I told her she was being ridiculous," Apple Bloom argued as everyone got in the vehicle. "I had money on you and Rainbow Dash."
"Apple Bloom!" Applejack exclaimed in shock. "I can't believe y'all were bettin' on who I was going to start datin'! And for that matter, How'd you know I wasn't going to 'hook up' with some guy while I was gone?"
Protesting as Big Mac got behind the wheel and started driving away, Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. "Because you've never been interested in any of the guys at school. Granny said years ago that she thought you were gay but she told us not to push you about it because you needed to figure it out for yourself." Glancing at her big brother, she added, "And by the way, Big Mac said you and Twilight would make a really cute couple together."
Leaning over and burying her face in Rarity's shoulder, blushing as red as a pink lady apple, Applejack couldn't help but smile as her girlfriend tried to soothe her nerves.
Princess Twilight's Castle
Ponyville, Equestria
Arriving through the magic portal, Sunset Shimmer had to hold back a smile as Bruno stumbled through, falling flat on his face as he tried to figure out his new form.
"Are you okay?" she asked, helping him up just as Starlight Glimmer came through.
"I-I think so," Bruno replied, wondering if his rats had come though alright. Giving a start as the half-dozen rodents hovered in front of him, surrounded by a green glow, Bruno looked over at Sunset and pointed a hoof at his new horn. "Is this normal?"
"Think of it like telekinesis," Starlight supplied, helpfully. "Basic levitation and summoning are easy to get the hang of. It might take you a while to get used to the rest of it."
"Starlight! Sunset! You're back!"
Princess Twilight Sparkle trotted over, her expression eager and practically giddy with anticipation. "Okay, start from the beginning and tell me everything-" She cut off as she noticed Bruno who quickly pulled down the hood of the cloak he wore.
"Twilight, this is Bruno Madrigal," Sunset explained, gesturing to Bruno. "He's... my future husband."
"You got engaged?!" Twilight gaped, her jaw dropping in astonishment.
"They're not actually engaged yet," Starlight supplied, nodding at the ring Sunset now wore on a chain around her neck. "It's more like a... a courtship?"
Twilight could only stand there, dumbfounded. After a few moments, she finally blinked and croaked, "I think we've got some catching up to do." Hearing Applejack and Pinkie Pie down the hall in the kitchen, she squeaked, loudly, "Perfect timing! Let's eat! And talk! And you can tell me all about this not yet engagement!"
"You might want to get everyone else together," Starlight pointed out as she followed the Princess of Friendship to the dining room. "Because there's a lot to cover..."
X
It was well after dawn when Starlight Glimmer and Sunset Shimmer concluded their tale - with help from Bruno, whom everyone seemed to instantly approve of. Fluttershy was immediately smitten with the rats and Princess Twilight kept interrupting the story to ask Bruno about how his family's magic worked.
"Alma Madrigal sent this for you," Starlight said finally, pulling the family history out of her bag. "It's a detailed history of the Madrigals' family and how they got their magic in the first place."
Rainbow Dash beamed as she watched Twilight skimming a few pages of the book. "Okay, I want to read this, too! It sounds super cool!"
Applejack nodded, also intrigued. "I'm just curious about bein' able to grow any old plants you want. Just think of how much bigger Sweet Apple Acres could be if I had that kind of power!"
Raising an eyebrow, Rarity turned to Applejack, a touch of surprise in her voice as she queried, "I would have thought you'd have wanted to heal through your baking."
Before any further discussions could continue, Sunset and Starlight let out simultaneous yawns.
"Why don't we talk more about all this later?" Princess Twilight acquiesced, giving her friends a sympathetic look. "Let's get some sleep and we'll get down to business this evening."
"I-I'm not that tired," Bruno piped up, raising a hoof. "I can start cleaning up."
Pinkie Pie volunteered to help along with Rainbow Dash and as the trio headed for the kitchen, Starlight went to her own room to get some rest.
Not bothering to unpack, she flopped down on her bed, feeling exhausted but eager to talk to her friend and mentor about trading places with Sunset.
Thinking about the Madrigals and her friends in the other human world, Starlight smiled as sleep overtook her.
Friendship, in any world - and any form - was indeed magical.