On the why

The low hum of the plane's engines filled the cabin, a steady rhythm that lulled most of the passengers into a quiet stupor. But Alexei Kuznetsov wasn’t one of them. He sat stiffly in his seat, staring out of the small window at the clouds rolling beneath him. His mind was far from calm.

This was no ordinary flight, after all. Alexei had been chosen—handpicked by the Soviet Union to lead the establishment of a new republic. It was an honor, one meant to showcase the industrial might and strategic brilliance of their system. Yet, as he thought about the monumental task ahead, doubt lingered in the back of his mind. Could he truly succeed where so many others had failed? And was it worth it?

He adjusted his dark gray coat, the worn fabric a quiet reminder of his humble beginnings. Though his attire was meant to reflect his status as an industrialist, Alexei had always preferred the rough practicality of his lower-class roots. He ran a calloused hand over his father's old watch, glancing at its cracked face. “Focus,” he muttered to himself. “The Union trusts you. You have to make this work.”

The plane jolted suddenly, pulling Alexei from his thoughts. Alarms blared, piercing through the once-quiet cabin. Around him, passengers exchanged worried glances as oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling.

“This is your captain speaking,” a voice crackled over the intercom, strained but attempting calm. “We’re experiencing some… unexpected turbulence. Please remain seated and—”

A deafening roar cut him off as the plane lurched forward. Alexei’s stomach flipped as the aircraft began its descent. He gripped the armrests, his knuckles white, as passengers screamed around him.

The ground rose to meet them far too quickly. The chaos of the cabin blurred into white noise as Alexei closed his eyes. The last thought that crossed his mind was a bitter, fleeting regret: I never even got the chance to try.

Then, silence.

A New World

Alexei gasped as his eyes snapped open. He bolted upright, his hands pressing against soft grass beneath him. Grass? He blinked, disoriented, as he scanned his surroundings. The air was vibrant, filled with colors and scents that seemed impossibly vivid. Tall, twisted trees loomed in the distance, their branches swaying unnaturally in a breeze he couldn’t feel.

“What the…” Alexei muttered, his voice hoarse.

A sound reached his ears—faint at first, then unmistakable. Snickering. He looked up sharply, his gaze locking onto a figure lounging casually on a floating cloud. It was like nothing he’d ever seen before—a mismatched jumble of animal parts, from a lion’s paw to a lizard’s tail. The creature’s yellow eyes glowed with mischievous delight as it grinned down at him.

“Ah, you’re awake!” the creature said, clapping its hands. “Welcome to your new life, comrade.”

“What—” Alexei began, but before he could say another word, the creature snapped its fingers. Alexei felt his feet stick to the ground, as if glued, and his mouth was zipped shut by an invisible force.

“Tut-tut, no interruptions,” the creature chided, wagging a talon. With a flourish, it snapped its fingers again. A puff of smoke engulfed it, and when it cleared, the figure now stood in front of a chalkboard, wearing a comically oversized Soviet-style teacher’s uniform. “Class is in session!”

Alexei stared in stunned silence as the figure began drawing wild, nonsensical diagrams on the board—an arrow here, a squiggly line there. “Now, let’s see,” the creature mused, tapping the chalk against its chin. “You were on a plane. Boom! Plane goes down. Very tragic. But lucky for you, I’m feeling generous. You get a second chance—congratulations!”

Alexei’s muffled protests earned a dismissive wave. “Oh, don’t thank me yet,” the creature said, spinning the chalkboard to reveal an elaborate drawing of a smiling stick figure (clearly meant to be Alexei) standing next to what looked like… a factory? “You see, this was all my fault. Little slip of chaos magic—oops! But I’ve decided to make it up to you. I’m giving you the chance to build your very own little utopia. Doesn’t that sound fun?”

With another snap, the zipper disappeared from Alexei’s mouth. “What are you talking about?” he demanded. “Who—what—are you?”

The creature bowed dramatically. “Discord, spirit of chaos and disharmony, at your service. Any more questions?”

Confusion and Questions

Alexei narrowed his eyes at the creature in front of him, his confusion mounting. “What are you talking about?” he repeated, his voice sharper now.

Discord smirked, casually spinning the chalk in his claw like a baton. “Ah, I see you’re a bit slow on the uptake. No problem, I’ve got all the time in the world! Well, not really, but you get the idea.” He snapped his fingers, and suddenly a small hourglass appeared on Alexei’s shoulder, the sand within pouring at an unnervingly fast pace.

Alexei swatted at it instinctively, but the hourglass poofed into smoke before he could touch it. “Explain,” he demanded, his tone low and serious. “What do you mean, ‘this was all your fault’? What have you done?”

Discord placed a paw on his chest, feigning offense. “Me? Done something? Oh, Alexei, you wound me! I’m just a humble spirit of chaos, dabbling here and there in the unpredictable. But, well…” He leaned in conspiratorially, his grin widening. “Sometimes even chaos has its oops moments.”

Alexei took a step back, his feet no longer glued to the ground, though he didn’t notice right away. His brow furrowed. “You’re saying you… killed me? Is that what this is?”

“Oh, no, no, no!” Discord waved his talons dismissively. “You were going to crash anyway, I’m afraid. That big ol’ tin can of yours was doomed from the moment you boarded it. Boring physics, you see. What I did—well, let’s call it an intervention. A twist in fate! A chance for you to make something of yourself beyond spreadsheets and resource quotas.”

Alexei blinked, his mind reeling. “So, I’m dead?”

Discord clapped his hands. “Well, yes and no. You were dead, but now you’re not. Magic, my dear Alexei. Doesn’t need to make sense! You’re alive—sort of—and you’re here, in a delightful little world I like to call Equestria. Or Equis, if you want to get technical. Don’t bother thanking me; your look of utter bewilderment is thanks enough.”

Alexei took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. “Equestria? And you’re the… spirit of chaos? What kind of nonsense is this?”

Discord rolled his eyes. “Oh, humans. Always so literal. Yes, I’m the spirit of chaos, disharmony, mayhem, and all things fun. And you, my dear mortal friend, are my new little project!”

“Project?” Alexei repeated, his tone wary. “What do you mean by that?”

“Glad you asked!” Discord snapped his fingers, and the chalkboard behind him flipped over to reveal an exaggerated drawing of a town surrounded by factories and tall buildings. Above it all, a smiling stick figure (clearly labeled ‘Alexei’) stood atop a mountain, holding a flag that read “SUCCESS.”

“You,” Discord said, pointing the chalk dramatically at Alexei, “are going to build something marvelous. A republic, a utopia, a shining beacon of progress—or whatever you humans like to call it. But here’s the catch!” He leaned forward, his grin turning sly. “You’ll have to do it my way.”

“And what exactly does that mean?” Alexei asked, his voice tight with skepticism.

“Oh, nothing too complicated,” Discord said breezily, snapping his fingers again. A book titled Chaos-Fueled Settlements for Beginners appeared in Alexei’s hands. “You’ll get a little bit of magic—courtesy of yours truly. Enough to build, create, and guide your new community. But! You’ll have to earn it. The more creatures you convince to live in your little slice of paradise, the more power you’ll unlock. Simple, no?”

Alexei stared at the book, flipping through its pages. They were blank, save for a single phrase written on the first page: “Figure it out!” He looked back at Discord, who was now lounging on a floating recliner, sipping from a coconut with a tiny umbrella.

“This is insane,” Alexei muttered. “Why would you give me this power? What do you gain from it?”

“Oh, let’s just say I enjoy a bit of chaos in my entertainment,” Discord said, his voice dripping with mischief. “Besides, I owe you one. You’re here because of my little magical… mishap. Think of this as my way of saying ‘sorry.’ And if you play your cards right, maybe—just maybe—you’ll make something truly spectacular.”

Alexei’s jaw tightened as he processed everything. “And if I refuse?”

Discord’s eyes gleamed. “Oh, you won’t. Because what else are you going to do, hm? Wander aimlessly in a world of talking ponies? I thought you liked building things, Alexei. Consider this your second chance. A little chaos to spice up your life.”

Alexei gritted his teeth, glancing back at the chalkboard, then at the empty book in his hands. A small part of him wanted to argue further, but another, deeper part—the part that thrived on challenges—felt a flicker of curiosity.

“Fine,” he said at last, his voice heavy with resignation. “I’ll play along. For now.”

Discord clapped his hands together in delight. “Splendid! I knew you’d come around. Now then, let the games begin!”

Explaining the Rules

Alexei stared at the book in his hands, still grappling with the absurdity of the situation. But his logical mind refused to rest. If he was stuck here, he needed answers—clear ones, if possible.

“How does this work, exactly?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at Discord. “You say I have magic, but how am I supposed to use it? What are the limits?”

Discord floated lazily in midair, spinning himself like a corkscrew. “Ah, an inquisitive one! I knew I liked you for a reason. Alright, let’s break it down, shall we?” He snapped his fingers, and a glowing blueprint-like diagram appeared in the air, filled with swirling arrows, gears, and indecipherable symbols.

“Think of your magic as… oh, let’s call it a settlement engine,” Discord began, conjuring a tiny model of a factory that puffed smoke and rattled with motion. “You, my dear Alexei, are the spark that keeps the engine running. The more settlers you bring to your little slice of chaos, the more fuel your engine gets. And more fuel means more fun—by which I mean, more power for you!”

Alexei crossed his arms. “So, it’s a glorified reward system?”

Discord gasped, clutching his chest as if mortally wounded. “A reward system? Please, give me more credit than that. It’s a dynamic, ever-evolving, chaos-infused symbiotic relationship. You build. They come. You grow. The magic grows. Simple!”

Alexei frowned. “And what can this ‘magic’ actually do? Am I building everything myself, or what?”

Discord smirked, his eyes twinkling. “Ah, now you’re getting to the fun part. Allow me to demonstrate!” With a snap of his fingers, a small plot of land appeared in front of Alexei, complete with tiny wooden stakes marking its boundaries.

“Imagine you want to build a house,” Discord said, conjuring a floating quill and clipboard. “First, you’ll need a schematic. You can design one yourself, or—if you’re feeling lazy—let me throw in a pre-approved option.” Another snap, and a miniature house blueprint hovered before Alexei.

“Then what?” Alexei asked, leaning closer.

“Then, you place it!” Discord flicked the blueprint toward the plot of land, and in a flash of light, a small but cozy house appeared. “Voila! Instant housing! Well, sort of. The magic takes care of the basics, but you’ll need materials—wood, stone, fabric, what have you—for anything more elaborate. That’s where your settlers come in.”

“And how do I get materials?” Alexei pressed, his tone skeptical.

Discord wagged a claw. “Ah, you’re catching on. You, my industrious friend, can conjure small amounts of materials at the start—enough to build one or two tiny buildings or one larger one, depending on its purpose. But!” He raised a talon dramatically. “The more settlers you attract, the more materials you can produce. Think of it as scaling up your production line.”

Alexei glanced at the blueprint-turned-house, then back at Discord. “And what about vehicles and equipment? How do those work?”

Discord chuckled, spinning a toy car into existence. “Oh, those are special. Vehicles and equipment can also be placed with magic, but they don’t require as much energy as raw materials. Consider them tools to keep your settlement running smoothly—if you know how to use them.”

Alexei folded his arms, his mind racing. “And the schematics you mentioned? Can I share those with settlers? Teach them how to build things themselves?”

Discord clapped his hands, grinning. “Now you’re thinking like a leader! Yes, indeed. Your schematics are your gift to the masses. Share them, teach them, let them do the grunt work while you focus on the bigger picture. Isn’t delegation wonderful?”

Alexei hesitated, his brow furrowing. “And what happens if settlers leave? Or if the settlement fails?”

Discord’s smile faltered—just for a moment. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry too much about that,” he said with a dismissive wave. “This is Equestria. Ponies are stubborn little creatures, and they adore a good community project. But hypothetically… yes, if settlers leave, your magic dwindles. You won’t lose what you’ve built, but you’ll have to recover your numbers to unlock more power.”

Alexei frowned, his arms tightening across his chest. “And what do you get out of this, exactly?”

Discord’s grin returned, wider than before. “Me? Oh, I’m just a spectator in this little game. Watching you struggle—er, I mean thrive—brings me no end of entertainment. And who knows? Maybe you’ll create something truly chaotic and wonderful.”

Alexei’s gaze hardened. “This isn’t a game to me.”

Discord floated closer, his tone softening—just slightly. “And that’s exactly why it’s going to be so interesting.”

Trial by Chaos

The small house Discord had conjured moments before shimmered and vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving only an empty plot of land behind. Alexei blinked, startled by the sudden disappearance.

Discord floated down lazily, arms crossed behind his head, and smirked. “Well, that was fun, wasn’t it? But enough of me doing all the heavy lifting. Now it’s your turn, comrade.”

Alexei raised an eyebrow. “My turn? You expect me to conjure a house out of thin air?”

Planning the Next Step

Alexei leaned against the newly completed Townhall, staring out at the surrounding landscape. His mind was already racing, trying to piece together what he needed to build next. The settlement was nothing more than an empty plot with a single structure, but if it were to grow, he needed to plan carefully.

“A construction yard,” he muttered to himself. “Vehicles, materials, storage… None of this will work without it.”

Discord, who had been lounging on the roof of the Townhall and juggling mismatched objects, perked up. “Ah, construction, the backbone of progress! But I sense a tiny problem, don’t I?”

Alexei frowned, crossing his arms. “Yes. If I can only build one or two small structures a day, it’ll take forever just to set up the basics. And I can’t place something like a construction yard too close to the settlement; it’ll ruin the layout.”

Discord floated down, landing next to Alexei with a theatrical swoop. “Oh, you poor, linear-minded human. Lucky for you, I have just the thing!” He snapped his fingers, and a scroll appeared in Alexei’s hands, labeled: “Basic Storage Plot”.

“What’s this?” Alexei asked, unrolling the schematic.

“The simplest of simple solutions!” Discord proclaimed, conjuring a miniature model of a flat plot of land dotted with small piles of materials. “A Basic Storage Plot! It’s not a building, per se, more of a… prepped area. Think of it as nature doing the heavy lifting for you. All it needs is a little nudge of magic and a smidgen of materials, and voilà! Instant storage space.”

Alexei studied the schematic. “So, it doesn’t require much magic?”

“Barely any!” Discord assured him, raising a paw. “But don’t get too ambitious, my dear comrade. This plot isn’t for building houses or factories—oh no, no, no. It’s strictly for storing vehicles, materials, waste, and other boring necessities. A place to keep things tidy while you focus on the big picture.”

Alexei rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “And what about roads? I’ll need paths to connect everything, but I can’t afford to waste magic on fancy stone or gravel.”

“Ah, now you’re thinking like a true planner!” Discord snapped his fingers again, and a glowing path appeared between the Townhall and the empty plot. “Behold, the humble dirt path. Cheap, functional, and oh-so rustic. Just like the Storage Plot, it uses the land itself—barely a whiff of magic required. And if you’re feeling particularly daring, I’ve got a basic fuel depot schematic, too.”

“A fuel depot?” Alexei asked, glancing up.

“Nothing fancy,” Discord said with a wave of his claw. “Just enough to keep your little construction toys running smoothly. Think of it as a stepping stone to bigger, shinier things.”

Alexei considered the options, his mind churning. With these basic structures, he could lay the groundwork for the settlement without draining his limited resources. It wasn’t ideal, but it was practical.

“Alright,” he said finally. “Show me how this works.”

Setting Up the Construction Yard

Discord flicked his tail, and a glowing outline of the Storage Plot appeared a short distance away from the Townhall. “Go ahead. Same process as before—focus on the schematic, picture it in your mind, and let the magic do its thing.”

Alexei took a deep breath, holding the scroll tightly. He focused on the outline, imagining the empty plot filled with neatly arranged spaces for vehicles and materials. The magic surged again, less intense this time but still pulling at his energy. Slowly, the land began to transform.

The grass flattened and compacted into a sturdy surface. Small markers appeared to indicate where materials and vehicles could be stored. In less than a minute, the Storage Plot was complete—a simple but functional addition to the settlement.

Discord clapped enthusiastically. “Marvelous! Efficient! And not half-bad for someone who thought magic was make-believe an hour ago.”

Alexei let out a slow breath, eyeing his work. “This’ll do for now. What’s next?”

“Well,” Discord said with a sly grin, “I suppose you’ll need some dirt paths to connect everything. And maybe that fuel depot—unless you want your vehicles running on sunshine and good vibes.”

Alexei sighed, already feeling the weight of his growing to-do list. But as he glanced back at the Townhall and the newly completed Storage Plot, a small spark of satisfaction flickered within him. It was a start.

Discord chuckled, snapping his fingers. A scroll appeared in Alexei’s hands, its edges glowing faintly with an otherworldly energy. Across the top, written in bold, slightly wobbly letters, were the words: “Schematic: Townhall/Townhouse”.

“This,” Discord said with a dramatic flourish, “is the blueprint for your very first building. The cornerstone of your little utopia! Or dystopia. Who’s to say? Either way, it’s where you’ll live, where your settlers will gather, and where all your brilliant ideas will come to life. Quite literally.”

Alexei unrolled the schematic, scanning its intricate details. It depicted a modest but multifunctional building, with a central hall for meetings, smaller rooms for research and planning, and shared living spaces for settlers. It was practical, efficient, and exactly the kind of structure he’d expect from a newly formed settlement.

“This will… do everything?” Alexei asked, skepticism in his voice.

“Everything you’ll need to start with,” Discord replied, twirling a cane that hadn’t been there moments before. “Think of it as your one-stop shop for survival. A home, an office, a hub for research, and even a few cozy bunkrooms for your first settlers. Don’t worry—it’s just big enough to fit the basics.”

Alexei traced the lines on the schematic with a finger, his mind already calculating. “And I’m supposed to build this? How?”

“Ah, I’m glad you asked!” Discord snapped his fingers again, and a glowing outline of the Townhall appeared in the empty plot of land. “You see that? That’s your target. Now all you have to do is will it into existence. Easy as pie! Or is it cake? Never could tell the difference.”

Alexei shot him a dubious look. “You make it sound simple.”

“It is simple!” Discord replied, clapping him on the back. “Focus on the schematic, picture it in your mind, and let that lovely chaos magic of yours do the rest. Go on, give it a shot. I’ll even grade you when you’re done!”

With a deep breath, Alexei stepped forward, rolling the schematic back into a scroll. He stared at the glowing outline, his hands tightening around the parchment. “Alright,” he muttered. “Let’s see what this ‘magic’ of yours can do.”

Building the First Structure

He closed his eyes, focusing on the image of the Townhall in his mind. At first, nothing happened, and a flicker of doubt crept in. Then, a strange warmth spread through his chest, as if some unseen force were responding to his intent. He opened his eyes just in time to see faint sparks of light flickering around the outline.

The sparks grew brighter, swirling in intricate patterns. The framework of the building began to materialize—wooden beams, stone foundations, and walls taking shape as if by an invisible hand. Alexei felt the magic pulling at him, draining his energy slightly but leaving a strange sense of satisfaction in its wake.

Finally, the structure stood before him, complete. It wasn’t perfect—the roof slanted awkwardly in one corner, and the front door was slightly crooked—but it was there. A tangible, functional building, born of magic and intent.

Discord’s Feedback

“Well, well, well!” Discord exclaimed, inspecting the building with exaggerated flair. He conjured a clipboard and a pair of oversized glasses, peering critically at the Townhall. “Not bad for a first attempt. Solid foundation, cozy rooms, a touch of rustic charm… though that roof could use a little love.”

Alexei wiped his brow, catching his breath. “It’s… functional,” he said, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. “That’s all that matters for now.”

“Functional indeed!” Discord agreed, tossing the clipboard into the air, where it transformed into a flock of birds. “Congratulations, Alexei! You’ve officially built the first building of your settlement. Now, let’s see how you handle the next challenge.”

Alexei glanced back at the Townhall, a faint sense of pride stirring in his chest despite himself. This was just the beginning—but for the first time since his strange new journey began, he felt like he might actually be able to do this.

Author's Note

I don't really know what to say so i will just say thank you for reding my fanfic so fare