The king is dead. I am hungry. The king is dead and I'm hungry and I have no idea which should take precedence. On the one hoof the king is dead and, from what Rain told me, it was quite the horrific scene. His skin had become sunken and sallow, his eyes little more pockets of festering pus. Truly horrific. But on the other hoof I'M HUNGRY.
Well, that's one problem solved. By which I mean I've eaten. And while I was eating I noticed what Rain has written in my journal. I must say my dear, I'm a little disappointed. But that's a discussion for another time.
The king is dead, and nopony knows how it happened. I have my theories, but I'd rather keep them to myself for now. And if the news we've been receiving from Pegasus messengers and various Earth pony merchants is to be believed, similar cases to the kings have been popping up all over the region, generally in townships close to riverbanks. Likely, there's a connection.
Addendum: General Stormchaser of the pegasi and Chancellor Joshua Puddinghead of the Earth ponies have both somehow managed to avoid whatever this epidemic is and have called a meeting of the races to decide what to do about it. Since our king is dead, and I stand as his most trusted guard, and considering he has no living relatives old enough to take the throne, I will stand as incumbent king at the meeting. Joy.