Twilight wandered through the Crystal Library, feeling at home among the dusty shelves and ancient books. It was her forte, her first and only love. A new book, filled with hidden knowledge... A library full of ancient, one-of-a-kind books... It was a match made in heaven. If she wanted, she could just sit down, start reading, and not stop until she had read every book there.
Of course, she didn't have that long. Twilight was supposed to spend the day with her brother, but Shining Armor was involved in some intense negotiations with the Griffonstone ambassador and wouldn't be free for at least another few hours. The other girls were making themselves at home in the palace spa, but Twilight had chosen to come here, to this solemn, ancient fortress of learning.
It was the perfect place to take her mind off things, specifically, the upcoming conversation with her brother. He may have been her Big Brother Best Friend Forever, but the stallion had a brooding streak a mile long! Always wrapped up in deep thoughts, always spoiling for a fight... The Canterlot Guard seemed like the perfect place for him, until he rose to the top and found he could climb no further on his own.
And so her brother, who had rarely shown interest in romance, especially with a female, asked Princess Cadence's hand in marriage. When she agreed, his ambition had finally paid off, and despite a few insect-shaped issues, the relationship was by all accounts civil. Now, with an empire to rule and an heir on the way, it seemed like nothing could bring him down. Until the Prince of the Yaks arrived, making all sorts of threats and demands. Shining Armor didn't do threats.
Thus leading to the current situation. Yakyakistan threatening war over the kidnapping and possible molestation of their royalty, Griffonstone trying to secure an alliance against them, and Princess Celestia trying desperately to avert a war between two regional powers. By asking Twilight and her friends to come, she knew she'd made the right choice. Twilight felt a tingle at the thought. She'd bring peace, or.... Well, there wasn't much alternative, was there?
Running her fingers over the shelves, there were a few titles she recognized, mostly from fragments and partial copies in the Canterlot Library's rarities department. Even books could only survive so long, especially before printing. Any accident, a fire, a flood, an accident with a glass of water - And it could be lost forever, along with the knowledge it contained. But here they were! Mint condition, the originals, copied down by monks and scholars countless eons ago-!
Twilight stopped, tilting her head to read a title, before pulling the book from the shelf. The book was normal by ancient standards. Fairly small, only a couple hundred pages, with an undecorated leather cover and vellum pages. What interested Twilight was the title.
"The Way of the Amazon Warriors?" She mumbled, "Never heard of it."
Twilight felt a stirring inside her, a feeling like butterflies in her stomach, only more pleasant. A book she - SHE - had never heard of! If nothing else, most of these books had their titles cataloged by the scholars who scoured the library soon after the empire's reappearance. She, of course, had memorized every name on the list, and was slowly working through them during her visits, but this was something new.
A new book, probably unseen and unread for countless centuries, and she would be the first to learn its secrets! A smile spread across Twilight's face. This would be fun. She had to fight to keep her wings under control, as she very nearly flew to the nearest reading table. The rickety old chair felt like the finest sofa beneath her, as she set the book down and gingerly opened the first page.
Twilight stared down at the dusty, well-worn pages. She had to squint to read the faded ink, but it was all worth it - So much new knowledge, on a culture she knew nothing about! She felt a little lightheaded, a little sweaty, a tingle shooting down her spine - And she began to read.
The Amazon warriors come from a long, proud tradition, stretching back to the dawn of history.
Twilight squirmed in her seat. Her clothes felt a little tight - or her body felt a little big - or maybe a little of both. The library was one of the coldest parts of the palace, with fires forbidden and magical heating not yet installed, yet her body felt warm. Sweat formed on her forehead, and she instinctively pulled back so as not to drip on the book below her.
Born on the steppe of Mustangia in ancient days, Amazons are a band of female warriors both feared and respected for their fighting prowess.
Female warriors? A smile formed on Twilight's lips. There weren't many of those around these days. Princess Celestia only hired males for the Canterlot Guard, which Twilight suspected was closer to personal eye candy than a military unit, and even in the regular army, females were kept in support roles. Twilight was never quite sure why - She was physically strong, strong enough to win against bullies back in school - Wasn't she?
Suddenly, she felt a little short of breath, her collar pressing into her throat. "Damn," She muttered, reaching up and undoing the button. How had she not noticed how small this shirt was? She'd probably grabbed an old one by mistake, and was so excited to visit her brother and former babysitter that she hadn't noticed.
The bust was designed for a smaller mare, that's for sure. An A-cup or B at most, while Twilight's soft, perky C's pressed uncomfortably against the buttons. If nothing else, she was glad they weren't too strained - Not enough to see her bra, or lack thereof. She just couldn't stand those things, despite Rarity's insistence to the contrary. Twilight didn't worry about sagging - She was strong enough to keep them perky all on her own.
Her thickening pecs made sure of that. Twilight flexed them, chuckling as one breast raised, then the other. It was always a fun trick to do at parties.
As she flipped through the pages, reading about the Amazons' training and recruitment, Twilight felt a twinge of familiarity. She remembered the long days and nights she spent, working herself into the perfect shape. Years of running and weightlifting, martial arts training from the best instructors in Equestria... She was disciplined like no other, in mind, body, and soul. These ancient mares had it in common.
Of course she had it in common, she was one of them, wasn't she? Twilight groaned, pushing her chair back and staggering to her feet. Her head was fuzzy, and her body felt strange, as if she was too big for her own skin. Thoughts and memories drifted by like ghosts in her foggy mind. She couldn't focus, couldn't think. Her legs felt weak, and she slammed her fists onto the table for support, the chair behind her falling over.
"What's... Happening..?" She mumbled, stars appearing before her eyes. Her hands didn't look right. They were too big. But she knew they were her hands, hard and strong from years of training. She flexed them in front of her eyes, recognizing every callus and scar, yet feeling oddly distant.
Even as cognitive dissonance took its toll, she was changing. Her shirt began to tear at the seams, the beige fabric failing to contain her swelling muscles. The arms broke first, the taut fabric ripping apart around her swelling biceps. Veins throbbed on the new muscles, her heart pumping faster and faster as the transformation reached its climax.
The mare's purple ass ripped its way out of her panties, then her pants, a bubble butt made from years of squatting and running practice.
Buttons popped from her shirt, one by one, the wreckage of her shirt falling away to reveal her bare chest. Twilight's big breasts had stopped swelling, sagging slightly but remaining perky due to her added muscle. Her nipples stood proudly at attention, ready for anypony to latch on and feed... Assuming they got past Twilight's fists.
All that remained of her clothing was her shirt. Amongst all the changes, Twilight didn't notice as it changed, shifting from a beige shirt, into a jet-black cape with fur lining. It fell across her shoulders, hanging just below her ass. The collar turned into a clasp, holding it on her neck.
Twilight's memories shifted as she made her final transformation. There was nothing left of the old, studious mare, student of Celestia and friend to everypony. Now, there stood a fierce warlord, a mare who would kill just as soon as look at you. A fire burned in her eyes, lust for sex and violence consumed her every moment.
This new mare was both feared and respected. Many had died by her blade, axe, and spear. From the sorceress Trixie, to the tyrant Nightmare Moon, none questioned her authority as Queen of the Amazons. While Ponyville was her personal domain, far away from her native homeland of Mustangia, she still found time to visit other parts of the world.
Like when Princess Celestia asked her to help prevent a war between Griffonstone, the Crystal Empire, and Yakyakistan. She had nothing but respect for the wise old mare, but still saw fit to laugh in her face as she loaded her wagons with soldiers and equipment. She was a warrior, not a diplomat! Besides, her older brother had always helped in her times of need. Now, all she had to do was return the favor, if the locals didn't kill her first.
Sunburst, a withering little unicorn, had somehow convinced her to start writing a book about the history of her people. She had nothing to do in the meantime but train, and so she agreed. Just a few hours later, she was regretting it.
Twilight groaned, feeling the joints pop in her hand as she flexed it. The accursed quill-cramp had set in a while ago, and she just needed a break. Barely a page written, and she was already feeling the burn. It was worse than the first time she drank firewater. But the pain soon subsided, and, it was back to writing.
Twilight picked up the chair she had carelessly knocked over, sat down, and continued writing.
An Amazon, for all her strength, is nothing without a band of loyal warriors at her side.