In the years after the dangerous Discord War, but before the banishment of Nightmare Moon, love is in short supply. Ponies are inclined to be fearful and mistrustful, and are only slowly beginning to adjust to a peaceful lifestyle, with kind rulers. This is bad news for changelings.
The hive is getting hungry and becoming weak. It is accepted that the ailing queen will die. However, this old changeling has one last trick; her death will come about giving birth to the new hive leader.
The changeling most closely related to her will step out of the woodwork and become regent to the young monarch. Strange that he was the runt of the hatch, and trailed the old queen like a weak shadow.
And yet, it looks like good times are a'coming to the hive! But not all is as it seems.
The child queen is weak in mind, as a normal young queen would not be able to survive on her limited rations. She is bullied mercilessly. The day she is granted her ritual Proving quest, no one expects her to survive. But if she does...she will gain her full rights as a ruler, and be granted a name, something rare among changelings. And she will wield her power supreme.

Edited by the awesome bobdat