The first place Twilight Sparkle took Abelinda was Sweet Apple Acres to meet Applejack. She was out bucking apples with Big Macintosh. Abelinda marveled at Applejack's strength.
"Good morning, Applejack," Twilight said happily as she trotted up to her.
"Howdy, Twilight," said Applejack as she kicked a tree to knock some apples into the awaiting baskets. "What can I do you for?"
"I just wanted to introduce you to my new friend, Abelinda," she said while pointing at the pony who lingered slightly behind her. She was shyly rubbing her hoof against her leg. "She's new to Equestria."
"New to Equestria?! Well butter me up and call me a biscuit!" exclaimed Applejack as she trotted over to Abelinda and shook her hoof. Unfortunately, Applejack shook the poor pony until she was dizzy. "Good to have you in Equestria, Miss…"
Abelinda tried to regain her balance. "Abel….Abelinda," she said as she fell over; Twilight grabbed her before she hit the ground.
"Pleased to meet you, Abelinda," said Applejack, tipping her hat.
Abelinda's eyes were still spinning. Twilight tried to comfort her. "Sorry, Abelinda. Applejack doesn't always realize her own strength…as you've probably realized by now."
The dizzy unicorn shook her head. "O, it's alright. Pleased to meet you Applejack," she said as she laughed weakly.
"So what brings you to Equestria, Abelinda? You got kinfolk around these parts?"
Twilight helped Abelinda back onto all four hooves. "No," said Abelinda sadly. "That's just it. I don't have any family or friends. I'm all alone."
"What?! No family at all?" asked Applejack in disbelief.
"No…" replied Abelinda. Twilight put a hoof on her shoulder.
Applejack had pity on her. "I'm so sorry to her that, Sugar Cube. But you know what?"
"What?"
"If you're planning on stayin in Ponyville, there's bound to be someone here that'll take you in as their own. You can even come stay with me here at Sweet Apple Acres if you like."
"Or with me at the Library," Twilight chimed in. "Like Applejack said, any pony would be glad to take you in."
"Really?" Abelinda couldn't believe it.
"I give you the honest truth, Abelinda."
Abelinda eyes met Applejack's; she could tell that AJ wasn't lying, and smiled when she realized this. "Thank you," she said gratefully. "Thank you both. That's very kind of you."
"Aw no need to thank us, Sugar Cube."
"Applejack's right. We don't mind at all. That's what friends do for each other." Applejack nodded in agreement.
Abelinda smiled and nodded as well; she was speechless.
"Now who else has she met?" asked Applejack.
"You're actually the only other pony she's met so far," explained Twilight.
"Well I'll be. You gotta meet the rest of our bunch, Abelinda. I'm sure you'll like them just fine."
"Ok. Let's go," said Abelinda somewhat anxiously.
"Alright. Just let me get these here baskets back to the barn-" she stopped when she saw Abelinda pick up not only the baskets underneath the tree where Applejack was standing, but all the baskets in the orchard using her magic.
"I'll carry them. Which way is the barn?" she asked.
Twilight and Applejack stared at her with eyes wide open and mouths agape. They pointed towards the direction of the barn, then Abelinda trotted away. "Thanks," she said over her shoulder.
The other two stood there frozen. "Uh…Twi?"
"…Yea?"
"…Did you know she could do that?"
"…No. I had no idea she could do that. Were all of those baskets full?"
"They sure were."
"Wow. I'm not even sure if my magic could lift all of those, and she picked them all up as if they weighed nothing at all!"
While the two stared in disbelief, Abelinda was still trotting off to the barn, laughing to herself as she did so. "If they're surprised that I was able to lift every basket in the orchard, wait til they see what else I can do…"
