"Are you all packed and ready to go?"
Fyson gave Granté a look. The Sheikah held up his hands in appeasement.
"Hey, it's just a question."
"Yes, I'm packed and ready to go. Does that answer your oh-so-pertinent question?" said Fyson.
Granté pursed his lips and asked "What has you so ruffled? Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed? It was rather cold this morning."
Fyson resisted the urge to sigh, and he gestured vaguely to the west.
"I checked in on our new neighbors during my morning flight. Mouth of Dirt, Dirtmouth, whatever it's really called, is practically flooded with bugs now. I haven't the slightest clue where they all came from. We know barely anything about them. The only things we do know are things that you told us, after some freaky bug as tall as a tree used mind magic on you. And what's more, very little of it made sense!" Fyson cried out, then he took a steadying breath. "I just...it feels wrong for me to leave Tarrey Town right now, when so many things could go wrong."
Granté considered that for a moment, then shrugged.
"I get where you're coming from. I'm worried about our little town too. And we will be keeping a close eye on the bugs while you're gone." Granté jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "I've got the portable telescope my father made for me set up on my house's balcony. It should be good enough to spot an invasion party. But just because we're keeping an eye on them doesn't mean we should be afraid of them."
Fyson huffed.
"You just say that because you're a history aficionado, and you find this opportunity to learn about a brand new, unheard of culture fascinating."
Granté blushed, and scratched at his cheek.
"Well...that is a contributing factor, yes, but certainly not the only one. I also think we have a lot to gain from a potential alliance, in cultural, economic, and political matters. Why, if you look at the Gerdudo unification back in the Tabantha dynasty, the-"
Fyson shook his head and tuned the scholar out, instead turning away. He had a 6 hour flight ahead of him, with a stop off in Zora's domain to deliver mail and rest, and he had no desire to arrive at Kakariko Village after dark. With a strong stroke of his wings, Fyson left the ground, quickly ascending above Tarrey Town into the skies above.
Down below Granté coughed from the sudden dust cloud that was kicked up, then glared up at the Rito.
"Some people have no respect for history."
. . .
Hornet stood beside a suitably chastised Ogrim and scanned the crowd of bugs.
It was honestly surprising that Ogrim had been able to find so many, especially since the venerable beetle had taken a fairly straight path from the Royal Waterways to Dirtmouth. Hornet estimated there were at least three hundred bugs in the group he'd brought up. Of course, the path Ogrim had taken through the City of Tears would have been the most densely populated, and she shouldn't expect the same number of survivors in areas like Kingdom's Edge, but still. This was a good sign.
Hornet noticed several bugs in the masses staring at her, and she steeled herself. It may have been a long time since her training, but she was the daughter of three queens. Vespa in particular had given her lessons on public speaking, once upon a time, and even though she'd found it strange that the Queen of a Hivemind would need such a thing, she couldn't deny that it would come in useful now.
"Ogrim."
The knight stood to attention.
"Yes, my lady?"
"Get the crowd's attention."
"Right away." Ogrim spread his stance out, and drew in a deep breath of air through his spiracles.
"THE QUEEN WISHES TO SPEAK!"
All at once, the hubbub in the crowd stopped, though Hornet could hear whispers start up.
"The Queen? She's not the White Lady?"
"No, remember, the Pale King's heir. The one he fathered with that spider from Deepnest."
"Ugh, the halfbreed heir. Disgraceful."
"Wait, does that mean the Pale King is dead?!"
"She doesn't look much like a spider. Where's the rest of her legs?"
Hornet grabbed the brand around her neck and hoisted it into the air. The whispers subsided as she began to speak.
"For those of you who don't know, my name is Hornet! My father was the Pale King! My mother was Herrah the Beast, ruler of Deepnest! I was raised by the White Lady and Queen Vespa! I wear the King's Brand, and I claim, here and now, my birthright as Queen of Hallownest! Any of you who dispute this claim, step forward and make yourselves known!"
The crowd milled around, and there was a round of furious whispering, but none stepped forwards. There were doubtlessly those among the gathered bugs who did not accept her birthright, or the brand around her neck, but the needle on her back and the Great Knight by her side prevented them from acting on these thoughts.
It was unavoidable, Hornet knew. Trust, fear, and awe would come with time. All things a good leader needed to keep their subjects in line.
Hornet began speaking again, and once more the crowd quieted down.
"The Infection is gone! Hallownest has been freed from it's grasp. However, that does not mean that the kingdom is saved. If we do not come together, right here and now, more bugs will die!" Hornet paused and panned over the crowd with her gaze. "Dirtmouth has limited food stores, I doubt this town can provide for all of us for very long. And what's more, as I'm sure you've noticed, we are in a new place!"
At that, the bugs began speaking, much louder this time.
"Why is there a burning orb in the sky?! Why is the sky blue?"
"Did the end of the Infection cause this?"
"Why is it so hot?"
"Can you take us back?!"
As the buzz of questions mounted, Hornet turned to Ogrim and nodded at him.
"SILEEEEENCE!"
The tide of questions and anger halted, for the moment at least. Hornet released an appreciative scent for Ogrim and returned to speaking.
"I do not know where we are! But I intend to find out! And I intend to ensure the recovery and continued survival of any and all bugs in Hallownest, regardless of their previous stations or allegiance from before the Fall." Hornet paused. "To that end, I am forming five separate groups! The survival of Hallownest and it's citizens will depend on the work of these groups!"
Hornet gestured to Ogrim, who stepped forwards without hesitation, despite having no idea what Hornet was talking about. In hindsight, she should have probably discussed this with him beforehand, but she'd needed to address the crowd as soon as possible.
"The first group will be led by Ogrim. They will return to the depths of Hallownest and search the kingdom for survivors, and inform them of everything that is happening. Ogrim's group will also bring groups of survivors to Dirtmouth, the Crossroads, or the City of Tears, so that we can commence a headcount of those who still live, and properly plan how to feed and house everyone!"
Ogrim puffed up at the implicit order that he'd been given, and moved away from Hornet, placing his claws on his abdomen. Several bugs broke from the crowd to go over near him.
"The second group will be led by Iselda and Cornifer!" Hornet hoped the cartographer and his wife would forgive her for hoisting this duty on them as she pointed to the married couple. "We are in a new land that we know next to nothing about! To that end, those two, as well as any who wish to accompany them, will explore it! First the surrounding area, and then beyond, mapping as they go, and documenting what they can find!"
Hornet glanced over at the couple. Cornifer was vibrating with contained glee, while Iselda seemed torn between glaring at Hornet and looking fondly at her husband. After a moment, she seemed to make her choice, and nodded to Hornet. More bugs moved to stand near them.
"The third group will be led by Quirrel!" Hornet pointed to the pillbug, who started at being singled out. Apparently he had not known that she had seen him and that firebug who accompanied the little Knight. The former disciple of Monomon the Teacher had travelled all over Hallownest, and would make a good choice for a group leader.
"This group will gather food in Hallownest, and here on the surface once the explorers have judged it as edible! We need enough to feed every bug here right now and every bug we may rescue! Greenpath and Queen's Gardens will be prime foraging spots, and there are plenty of fresh corpses for flesh-eaters to partake in now that the Infection is gone! Food will be brought back to the staging areas here in Dirtmouth, in the Crossroads, and in the City of Tears, to feed bugs and to start storing it up for later!"
The scholar gave Hornet a long look before he bowed to her, and Hornet chittered in relief. Thankfully he didn't hold that one time she'd tried to kill him against her.
"The fourth group shall be led by me! I don't need many of you to accompany me, but I do ask that the mantises, spiders, bees, and that Fool over there to join me! I plan to speak with the other factions of Hallownest about the future of the Kingdom, and what part they wish to play in it!"
There was movement in the crowd as two mantises, three spiders, three bees, and a Fool strode out. None of them came near to each other, and none stood very close to Hornet either.
"You do not command the mantis-"
"I know that. It was a request. I seek an audience with the Sisters, the same as I do with the Greater Fools, what remains of the Undercourt, and Queen Vespa."
The bees buzzed in unison. The two mantises gave each other a look, then turned back to her.
"The Sisters will challenge you. If you succeed, then you may speak to them."
Hornet chittered in amusement.
"Oh, trust me, I am well aware."
Seemingly satisfied, the mantises backed away. The spiders didn't voice any complaints, but Hornet was not so foolish as to assume they accepted her merely because she was Herrah's daughter. She would be tested in Deepnest just as surely as she would be tested by the Mantis Lords, though the tests would no doubt be very different.
The Fool simply stared at her before nodding once. Hornet would take that as an affirmation.
"Thank you for your agreement." Hornet turned back to the crowd and said "The fifth and final group will be led by Elderbug! Any of you who do not wish to join one of the other groups will be under his command! Dirtmouth, the villages in the Crossroads, and the City of Tears are in shambles! This group will be responsible for cleaning out buildings to once more be liveable! They will manage the staging areas and will be in charge of cataloguing the food stores and performing the headcount! They will also bury, burn, or store bodies for feeding!"
Elderbug looked nervous at all of the eyes on him, and his stance crumpled slightly. Nonetheless, he gave Hornet a nod of assent.
"These are the groups! If you do not wish to work for any of them, then you may leave and find your own food, shelter, water, and protection! Otherwise, get to work!"
With that, the crowd began to break up, the vast majority moving to one of the five designated leaders. Hornet spotted a few bugs leaving by themselves, but that was inevitable. They would either return to the fold in time, or they'd survive by their own claw.
Hallownest would not die now, or at any point in her life, if she had anything to say about it. Hallownest would be made whole again.
Author's Note:
Sorry I haven't posted in a hot minute, I've been consumed by existential dread and also playing Animal Crossing. But enough about that, let's talk food supplies.
We don't have many solid canon sources for what bugs eat in Hallownest. We know that bugs eat other bugs, but there's little information on whether killing and eating intelligent bugs was considered gauche or even taboo before the Infection. I don't think cannibalism is really a concept that bugs pay much attention to, even the nobles of the capitol. If it's dead, it can be eaten. If it's alive and thinking, then they'd have a problem with killing it, sure, but otherwise, it's meat. This will obviously horrify the Hyruleans, but it's a case of Orange and Blue morality.
Greenpath, Queen's Gardens, and the Fungal Wastes seem like they'd provide most of the vegetarian options for bugs to snack on (although vegetarian is somewhat of a misnomer if there are also sentient mushrooms and plants in Hallownest). Before the Fall, there were also farms for plants and bug cattle like Gruzzers, Aluba, Bluggsacs, and Aphids. These will need to be rebuilt. Nectar-eaters and bees need flowers. And yes, the plants and animals of Hyrule will also enter the bug diet, in time.