Tsetse trotted through the dark greens and blacks of the Hive that surrounded her, taking some time to admire her surroundings, though she knew she could waste no time. Some part of her brain protested that technically she was surveying what would soon become her kingdom,if she could only figure out how to go about the plan she'd begun to figure out already.

The Grand Hive was the birthplace of every member of the royal family since the dawn of the Hives. It was massive, home to over a thousand changelings even after the start of the famine. It boasted some of the proudest luxuries that was sure to put even Canterlot to shame- the best academy, the best architecture, but most importantly for Tsetse, the largest library, with a mix of Equestrian and Changelian books that allowed for a broad scope of knowledge, if one would only have the time to look in it.

Most changelings were more obsessed with trying to find enough food to live, but Tsetse often didn't need to worry much. She still was often hungry, but nothing like some of her future subjects suffered. They had hope in a bright future that she could reel in one day. They loved her for the possibilities she could provide. It was that confidence in her that she fed off of, both figuratively and literally. Tsetse knew that as heir to the throne, and the one who would arrive to clean up Chrysalis's mess, she already had a large amount of support and favoring from the Changelings in all the Hives, though not many voiced it to or around the Queen. It was this fact that had motivated her to go through with this plan.

She moved through the ornate green doors, and a Changeling librarian was busily sorting through books. Ribs showed through the librarian's black coat, but Tsetse recognized this one, and knew he was in a similar situation as herself, foodwise anyways. The stallion fed on his love of books, though she'd never understood how it worked, and he got just enough nutrition from it. The librarian had confessed he still wanted to get "organic love" for his friends and family to feed off of, though he himself had never found a reason for it when he found a love in his literature.

Tsetse waved hello to him and moved to the history section. It had occurred to her as a sort of revelation last night that maybe she'd been looking in the wrong place for answers on how to more quickly usher in new ways of finding food for her kingdom as soon as possible. Science had carried her very far, but she had begun to find dead ends more often than leads. Now, she would have to look for answers in the words of those who'd seen it themselves- history books were her last hope, lest she went into this with no plan after she rose to power. She moved a hole-riddled hoof along the spines of the books. Textbooks, novels, beginner-levels next to advanced-levels, the library was a cluttered mess since the decline of the Kingdom's sanity and organizational abilities. With every day she came here, she felt more guilt about not helping the Librarians organize this absolute mess, but she knew the books would become messy again within the week, and that helped curb it. Soon she'd be a queen, and she could help all her subjects. She'd remember that. Queen Tsetse of the Grand Hive.

"Tsetse!" The Librarian trotted up to her, making her jump away and instinctively bare her fangs before recollecting herself. "Larva! Don't scare me like that! Aren't all Librarians supposed to be calm and quiet?"

Larva shrugged. "It doesn't matter since your dump of a mother rolled in her ten-step-program to starvation." The stallion turned to the bookshelf, browsing with a focused furrow in his brow. Tsetse role her eyes amusedly. Larva was one of the few whom she'd trusted most of the details of her upcoming rebellion in. He helped her find books that could assist with her plans, and he often cracked treasonous jokes around her, which she would return. They were an unstoppable team when it came to knowledge, and she knew from the way the stallion inspected the bookshelves he'd found soemthing for her again.

"What is it this time?" She stepped closer, and Larva looked up to meet her gaze.

"I found this old book while cleaning the shelves last week. I'm sure it's older than the Hives, from the way the cover looks. I hid it in the back of the shelf, though I'm sure nobody'd pay mind to it. You know how everyone is- more focused on surviving the present than thinking about the past." The dark changeling suddenly straightened, grabbing some dusty, beaten book out of a pile near the back of the surprisingly-deep bookshelf. "Here. Look." Larva tossed the tome to Tsetse, who caught it between her hooves quickly. She turned to the Librarian, but he was already trotting away, nodding good luck to her before tending to someone who'd just entered the library while they were talking.

Tsetse looked over the beaten-up cover. She grabbed another history book randomly from the shelves, covering her find's title with it before cantering off to a secluded table in a corner of the massive room. She set both books down and levitated the old tome before her closer, opening it up. She peered at the title page, which read ADVANCED LOVE HARVESTING MANEUVERS with a date of over 150 years back. What had Larva found so interesting about this book? It seemed to be just some dated textbook once used in an academy, before it was placed her for whatever reason. But when she flipped forward some pages, it became clear this wasn't showing the maneuvers she knew, of simply forming a romantic relationship with a victim, or gaining their trust and love via flirting or other methods. Suddenly, there were images of more physical things. She'd never seen some of these things before, though she knew what it was called, since it had been important to observe Equestrian behaviors before the failed takeover began. 'Matte'... no.... mating! That was it! She read deeper in, soon finding herself in a world of other information, lost to time. Why had changelings stopped this? Ponies became most vulnerable when in the heat of sex, and that was when you fed the most. It also felt good for a changeling and a pony each, and one-night stands were so common that there would be no suspicions from the partner if you fled.

Of course, changelings had something similar, but it involved two males, a female, and a queen's ovipositor. Tsetse grinned. She knew she had that- that part of science was common. Anyone of direct royal blood gained one upon reaching sexual maturity. The queen had the opportunity to let the eggs grow inside her instead of delivering them inside another female, and Tsetse had been the last hatching in the royal family- and the only surviving royal female after the growing intensity of the famine around her. Chrysalis acted scared of her sometimes, and Tsetse thought it funny that the Queen would finally have a valid reason to be afraid of something.

Tsetse flicked her tail at Larva, who noticed the subtle motion and trotted over after a wary glance around. With no eyes on them and all eyes on books, Tsetse didn't care much for trying to act as secretive as she normally did. "Where did you find this? Do you realize how much this can help our cause?"

Larva nodded, eyes bright. "I figured you'd be impressed. I don't know where it came from or who wrote it- but it's clear that someone abandoned this years and years ago, probably thinking it was too outlandish or something. But, uhm...." He sank his gaze a bit more. The changeling princess narrowed her eyes at him.

"But what?"

"W-well, I uhm, I read quite a bit in the book.... and then I tried to simulate such an occurrence.... with my hoof. For science." He paused, then added, "I-it did work!"

Tsetse blinked. "Oh. Well, don't feel so horrible about it! You shouldn't feel shame for experimenting! Now we know it'll work like a charm. The promise of food and easy pleasure is sure to bring in lot of followers for our cause. Let's assemble the others and you and I can teach them what we know using the book and our own knowledge."

"Our own knowledge? You know about this stuff?"

"Of course I do! It's ancient law that all eligible heirs much watch the Queen's reproduction practices at least once for two hours. I know quite a lot- more than you could teach yourself with a hoof."

"O-oh...." Larva looked to his hooves. "You should teach alone, then. I can spread the word of the book, but I don't have that much knowledge."

Tsetse grinned. "I'll teach you. I'll teach all the resistance, and anyone else interested. Spread the word as quickly as you can- we've found a way to feed our people, and get rid of their pent-up energy from being cooped up in the Hives. Anyone interested may report to the library's back room tonight. Anyone who snitches to Chrysalis that there's a chance for a revolution will be tracked down and... humiliated." The changeling princess snarled a bit, making Larva cower backwards so slightly it was a hard movement to catch. But then the Librarian turned, announced the library was closing early, and shuffled out with the three other changelings who'd been in the building with them. Tsetse was gone quicker than the others, but as she left she saw that already two changelings turned to others, murmuring a message she couldn't catch, but knew well. Her and Larva exchanged a glance across the semi-cluttered pathway, and then he flew off into the higher levels of the dark green hive, and Tsetse knew her revolution was finally ready.

Soon, she would be Queen... and Chrysalis would fall, just as she had been afraid of for years.

Author's Note

Sorry for no sauce! I wanted some lore here, and character introduction. Next chapter will be nice and saucy.