After the exile of Queen Chrysalis, Thorax's crowning as King and Pharynx's reformation, the changelings had allowed themselves to be a lot more emotionally open and available to their hive and others. They essentially evolved from being a large-scale group of parasites to an empathetic and relatively calm species of bug-deer-ponies. Ocellus, like most of her kind, is an empath, and is very in tune with the emotions of anyone she considers a friend.
As for status, Ocellus is ranked below Thorax, Pharynx and their children, but still holds a large amount of power and influence in the Changeling Hive — mainly, as an ambassador and advisor for the Hive when it comes to their relationships with the other kingdoms in Equestria. She is somewhat of an apprentice, having been chosen by Thorax for the Friendship School and continuing to grow under the King's watchful eye.
When Chrysalis was exiled, Ocellus and her brood were some of the younger ones in the hive, and as such took it the hardest when the queen left, as she was still mostly a mother figure to them. Thankfully, with the support of the hive, she and her broodmates were able to find the parental figures they needed — hers being Thorax.
While Ocellus is as sweet and kind as ever, don't let her soft pastel looks fool you — she's able to overpower an adult yak twice her size without needing to transform. Just another benefit from having the general be your surrogate uncle.
3rd installment in my Headcanon series! I figured since "ocellus" is an eyespot on bugs, it would be cool if Ocellus herself got some spots! I might do the other young six in the future, idk. I figure that the gems that Thorax and Pharynx have are a mark of high-ranking changelings, so I gave her a single one in her chest.