Raising Caroline Chapter 4

>Time skip of a few years

>Caroline has grown older and more independent, she has even developed control over her abilities.

>She spends a lot of her days with the Cake twins, exploring around Ponyville.

>The trio often remind you of the cutie mark crusaders.

>This morning however, Caroline is spending the day at Sugar Cube Corner helping the Cakes.

>With Caroline gone, you spent the afternoon with Fluttershy, helping her with her animals.

>You couldn't wait for her to come home, you had a surprise for her you know she'd love.

>This morning, with Caroline out of the house, you went down to see Cherilee.

>It took a little convincing, but she finally agreed to let Caroline join her class.

>Even though she was young, you could tell she was bright.

>She asked a lot of questions, some you weren't even sure of the answer to.

>One question that always got to you though was when she asked "What am I"?

>You never knew how to respond to that question, you secretly hoped it would never come up.

>But she isn't stupid, she knows she is different from everypony else.

>At first you would respond saying "You're my daughter, Caroline".

>This wasn't good enough though, she kept pushing, trying to get to the real answer.

>You would always change the conversation to another topic, and Caroline would drop the subject, only to pick it back up another time.

>"I think that's enough food Anon"

>You shake your head, becoming more aware of your surroundings, you really shouldn't drift off like that.

>You look down to see the food dish overflowing with food.

>Apologizing to Fluttershy, you go about picking up the excess food.

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>After helping Fluttershy, you head back to your home to prepare dinner for Caroline.

>You open your front door and hear a light sobbing coming from down the hall.

>This can't be good.

>You walk down the hall to see the Cake twins in front of Caroline's door.

>Pumpkin: "Please come out Caroline, I know she was really mean to you, but you can't let her get to you like this"

>Who was Pumpkin referring to you wonder.

>By the sounds of it, probably a bully.

>Caroline: "No, she's right, I'm a freak"

>This breaks your heart.

>You rush to close the distance between you and her door, the twins startled by your sudden appearance.

>You give a gentle knock on the door.

"Sweetie, it's me Dad, could you please open your door".

>Silence.

>You strain to hear the lock turn on the other side of the door.

>Caroline: "I-it's open".

>You turn to the Cake twins.

"You should get home now, I'll handle it from here"

>They say there goodbyes to you and Caroline.

>When they leave, you open Caroline's door and walk in.

>You see a small lump on the bed.

>Moving closer, you recognize Caroline's white hair, antler and goat horn, her face buried into her pillow.

>You sit on the edge of her bed slowly patting her head, not saying anything for the first few minutes.

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>5 minutes pass in silence until Caroline turns her head to the side to look up at you.

>"I know what I am dad".

>this takes you by complete surprise.

"Oh, and whats that"

>"A freak of nature, a..a draconequus"

>You're not sure who told her that and you were eager to find out, but your daughter comes first.

"That's not true sweetie"

>"yes it is Dad, and everypony knows it"

>You sigh.

"Do you want to tell me what happened today"

>Caroline doesn't speak for a while, just lying there looking out her window.

>"I was working the counter with Pound at Sugar Cube Corner when a pegasus and a few of her friends came in"

>"They trotted over to the counter wanting to get a cherry pie, when one of them whispered loud enough for everypony to hear"

"What did she say"

>"She called me unnatural, something from the Everfree forest, I tried to tell her I was normal like everypony else, but she only laughed"

>You could see new tears beginning to form as she continues her story.

>"That's when she told me a draconequus like me doesn't belong in polite pony society, Pound stood up to them, telling them to leave, refusing to sell them the pie, after they left I ran back here"

>After finishing her story, Caroline buries her face back into her pillow, not crying, but trying to shut the world out and ignore it.

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>You resume lightly patting the top of her head, not saying anything.

"I guess it's time I told you the whole truth about who you are"

>She looks up at you nodding, determined to get the truth.

"What they said was true, you are a draconequus, as far as I know only one other exists and his name is Discord"

>You hadn't told her the story of Discord yet for obvious reasons.

>She forgets about the teasing, curious about this new information.

>"Who's discord"

>"Well it all started a very long time ago..."

>You go into as much of the tale of Discord as you remember, wrapping up with his latest escape a short while before you found her egg.

"From what I can tell, you two share similarities not only in appearance, but also in ability, no other unicorn is able to do some of the things you do".

>Caroline doesn't speak for a few moments, taking in all the new information.

"I know this is a lot to take in right now, but trust me when I say I know what you're going through".

>"How can you, nopony seems to call you a freak, they all respect you"

>Caroline curls up into a small ball, tucking her head into her chest

"They used to, I was new here once, I'm not even a part of this world, I come from a different place called earth"

>Caroline looks up at you with disbelief

>This was another thing you kept from her, for all she knew, you were in Equestria your whole life.

>"How did you ever get them to stop"

"It was easy, I made some friends, and I just ignored the other ponies until they stopped, eventually they just got bored with me".

>"I don't know Dad, I am really freaky looking"

>You can't stand that defeatist attitude, you can't let her just give up like this.

"It'll be okay, Carolin, I promise"

>You get up off of Caroline's bed

"Oh before I forget, your starting school tomorrow"

>That sure got her attention.

>You see a mix of emotions play out across her face, surprise, excitement, nervousness.

>"I'm not sure thats a good idea Dad"

"Nonsense, besides your friends will be with you, you'll have a great time, now get out of bed, it's time for dinner".

>The two of you settle to a relatively quiet dinner.

>You try to steer the conversation away from any unpleasant topics, focusing on her time with the Twins.

"Well it's getting late Caroline, why don't you head up to bed, you have a long day ahead of you tomorrow".

>She wishes you good night as she heads off to her room

>You really hope she has a good time, fillies and colts can be real mean, especially to someone who looks different.

>You reassure yourself that this was a good idea, her friends are in the same class, that will surely help her make more friends.

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