I was spiraling. Everything was spiraling. The winds were blowing everywhere. It was worse than I thought. I had to do something. I had to save everypony.
I flew like a missile through the northern skies. I brushed past clouds, gales, and squadrons of mail delivering pegasi. They looked at me funny, shouting in anger at my speedy flight. Didn't they know the danger at hoof? Didn't they realize that everything we had all built was going to crumble? Didn't they respect the legacy of Commander Hurricane, the formation of Equestria, the sanctity of the seasons?
They could have sat on their lazy flanks for all I cared. I had a job to do. If I needed to be a hero, then I was more than ready.
I sped over hilltops and lake beds. After cresting the ridge of a sharp plateau, I at last saw it. My heart leapt up to my throat. Cloudsdale was still in one piece. That meant that I wasn't too late! I still had time to save everypony! I had to be strong enough; I had to be fast enough.
With the cold winds whistling past my ears, I climbed sharply and made for the heights of the floating city. Wandering pegasi glanced and smiled at me, their innocent faces gawking at my hurdling approach. They waved at me, caught in blissful ignorance. I tried looking in their eyes, but all I saw were spirals.
I had no time to lose.
"Everypony!" I shouted. "Get out of here! This city's going to fall!"
To my shock, they gasped and stammered in confusion.
"Huh?!"
"What?!"
"What does she mean?!"
"Cloudsdale... Falling... hahahaha!"
"I mean it!" I shouted. "It's going to Fall! Discord is using his freaky magic to tear our kingdom to shreds! You gotta get out of here before the buildings fall out underneath you!"
"Discord?!"
"Who's Discord?!"
"Does this have anything to do with the clouds turning pink?"
"How could Cloudsdale fall?!"
"Nnnnngh!" Growling, I spun around and flew towards the first pony I could recognize. Gripping her by the shoulders, I shouted into her face. "Derpy! We've flown together countless times You know that I'm the most loyal pegasus there is! You gotta tell them! All of you have to believe me! Cloudsdale is doomed!"
"Whoah! Calm down, Rainbow Dash!" Derpy exclaimed. One of her eyes rotated towards me, and she squinted. "Say, why are your all gray? And your eyes are swirly..."
"You're one to talk!" I hissed and shoved her away. "Don't you featherbrains get it?!" I yelled at those hovering around me. "We're royally screwed! We gotta evacuate the city and then get a weather team to support the lower cloud beds and—" A deep rumble alighted my ears. I gasped, my eyes blinking wide. "Did you hear that?! It's happening already! Come on, everypony! Follow me!"
I soared towards the far end of the city. After passing two large pillars of sky marble, I looked over my shoulder. I braked in midair and hovered, panting incredulously. "What the hay?! Why aren't you helping?"
"Rainbow Dash? Are you feeling alright?"
"Yeah, Rainbow Dash. Snkkkt—hehehehe... is there something in Prancingville's water? Hahaha!"
"Ponyville!" I shouted back, snarling. "And I couldn't give a flying feather about that stupid old town right now! You gotta help me save Cloudsdale! Lives depend on it!"
"Cloudsdale's fine, Rainbow Dash. You, on the other hoof..."
"Yeah, when was the last time you saw a doctor, Rainbow?"
"Or a mirror. Hahahaha!"
"Nnnngh!" I kicked a cloud in their direction, forcing them to duck and shriek. "Fine! If you wanna fall and get crushed into the earth, be my guest! But don't say I didn't warn you!" I spat on my hooves, rubbed them together, and sped my wings into a blurring beat. "There's only room in Equestria for one hero! Make way!"
I soared through the foundations of Clousdale. Ponies gasped and dodged my descent at the last second. I heard murmuring voices soaring past me, words of concern, frantic voices asking for the local police. I didn't give them the light of day. I had a city to save. It was up to me. It was all up to me.
I had to do this. I had to. I had...