It wasn't exactly the right decision to dive into battle, nor was it right to do so when she was so frustrated.
But she knew that.
"Rainbow Dash."
She heard Spitfire mutter her name and looked over to her as they flew.
"I don't know what's up with you, or even if there really is anything up with you, but I don't want you to sabotage the mission just because of it."
Rainbow Dash grew quiet, then simply adjusted her goggles in reply, as if to say 'Got it. Now let's go'.
"Hm," Spitfire grunted, raising a brow. It wasn't like Rainbow Dash to be so quiet. "...I've got my eye on you."
"SPITFIRE!"
The two turned their heads as a male Wonderbolt approached them, promptly stopping and saluting as he reached them.
"Status report," Spitfire ordered sternly.
The male pony turned and directed his hoof at the chaos in the distance. "The griffons have called in for back-up it seems. It's as if there's three of them for every one of us!"
"Pft! Just three griffons to one pony?" Rainbow Dash questioned, hoping to give her teammates a boost of confidence. "Sounds like the odds are in our favor. We just need to kick some major griffon tail!"
"Don't get cocky," Spitfire said as she glared at her. Rainbow Dash merely shrugged, though the words had hit her harder than she showed; mostly because of Spitfire's relationship to Soarin. Don't get her wrong however. She wasn't angry with Spitfire.
...I'm just really, really jealous...
"What's the current state of Cloudsdale?" Spitfire questioned.
"It has yet to be damaged too terribly. A few cracks in some buildings, but nothing that can't be repaired within a day or two."
"Good. Let's keep it that way. MOVE OUT!"
Spitfire and the male Wonderbolt then took off, with Rainbow Dash following closely behind as she pondered over where to go.
She was immediately drawn to a specific griffon however; one who had made it through the pack and was heading for Cloudsdale Stadium.
"I don't think so!" she yelled, flying at said-griffon and giving him a harsh jab to the face.
"Ugh!" he yelped, rubbing his now-red cheek. He then glared at Rainbow Dash. "You... you little-"
"Bring it on, weak-beak." she taunted.
The enraged griffon grunted, then charged at her with evil intent in his eyes.
"Too slow!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, dodging and delivering a hit to his back.
"Too slow, huh!?"
The griffon managed to grab hold of Rainbow Dash's tail with his right claw, then gripped her right foreleg with his left.
"H-hey!" she yelled as he switched his right claw to her left foreleg, keeping her in a firm hold.
"I've heard about you. You're the new Wonderbolt recruit that everyone was talking about." he said.
"Umf! You got that right!" Rainbow Dash told him, trying to sound threatening, despite squirming in the griffon's grasp.
"Well, if you ask me, you're the one who's too slow," he said, grinning devilishly. "What? Are you off your game today? Or are you just that bad?"
"SHUT UP!"
Infuriated, Rainbow Dash lifted her back legs and kicked the griffon with as much force as she could. He grunted harshly in response and put his claws to his stomach, clearly in immense pain.
She wasn't done though, oh no. She charged at him and knocked him unconscious, then grabbed hold of his claws and sent him flying into a group of three griffons, who had been fighting another member of the Wonderbolts.
"Hey, flaw-claws! Come at me!" she yelled, her hoof gesturing for them to come closer. "I can take on all three of you!"
Now focused on revenge for the unconscious griffon beneath them, they unquestionably charged at Rainbow Dash.
She was revved and ready though.
Charging at them as well, the four began to engage in an intense battle. The three would beat on Rainbow Dash, but she would hit right back. Her frustration only focused her strength.
Though, she had to wonder... who was she angry at?
Soarin, for being with Spitfire?
Spitfire, for being with Soarin?
...Or herself, for believing that she had a shot with Soarin in the first place?
Rainbow Dash clenched her teeth as the thought entered her head. She was never so self-conscious to think like that. Why now? Especially during a fight so important!
Her inner struggle caused her right hoof to falter slightly, and one of the three griffons took advantage of the opportunity by attempting a cheap-jab to her stomach.
They didn't manage though. The female Wonderbolt who had been fighting them earlier swooped in and blocked the shot, proceeding to join Rainbow Dash in giving them a pounding.
"Ugh. Thanks," Rainbow Dash grunted, though somewhat reluctant to say so; she would've preferred to get hit...
"Don't worry about it!" the mare told her as she hoof-jabbed one of the griffons. "Just fight!"
Rainbow Dash nodded and did so, but couldn't help being curious about the state of everyone else. "What's the status on the rest of the Wonderbolts?"
"E-everyone's-WHOA!" the female ducked an oncoming claw, then continued. "E-everyone's doing... hmph! ...Just fine!" she replied as the two continued their attempt at holding the three griffons back.
"You stuttered!" Rainbow Dash grunted as she rushed into one of the griffons and gave him a swift kick. "What's wrong?"
"...The captain is up front and fighting the most griffons. I fear that he won't last much longer," she responded.
"Soarin...?" Rainbow Dash questioned.
"Yes. He's-HEY, WAIT!"
Rainbow Dash didn't listen and flew over all of the griffons as fast as she could, making her way to the front of the line, where Soarin was vigorously fighting off at least eight griffons. She was quick to join in.
"W-what are you doing here!?" he asked, looking rather beat up as he attempted to fight off the griffons.
"Couldn't let you have all the fun," Rainbow Dash replied, though with no sense of teasing in her tone.
"You left your post!" Soarin yelled. "Now return to it!"
Rainbow Dash was quiet for a moment, then huffed as her expression softened, despite the fact that she was still fighting.
"...I'm not leaving you, captain."
Soarin faltered slightly from her words at first, then suddenly toughened up as he glared at her.
"It wasn't a suggestion! That was an order!"
"What? Refuse to have your new recruit hurt on her first major battle?" Rainbow Dash questioned, still torn from her earlier experience. Was 'the new recruit' really all she was to him?
"H-HEY! LET ME GO!"
"...?"
Hearing Soarin's reply, Rainbow Dash turned around and promptly gasped.
The griffons had gotten him.
And not just him.
All of them.
The Wonderbolts were all suddenly laid out on the cloudly ground of Cloudsdale, tied up. Their wings and legs were locked together, ensuring that there would be no escape. They squirmed and struggled, but the rope only slightly gave way; not nearly enough for them to get out just yet.
"Just one left, everyone." Rainbow Dash turned to the source of the voice. A much bulkier griffon; most likely their leader. He was surrounded by what seemed to be at least fifty other griffons.
She was conflicted to say the least; stay and maybe somehow beat up all these griffons, or fly off and escape? The latter was a choice that she was not fond of making.
Taking one last look at Soarin though, she instantly knew what she had to do.
"...Rainbow Dash," Soarin muttered, his angry expression fading as he saw the gleam in Rainbow Dash's eyes.
How do I do it though...
...wait!
I'm the pony who performed the stuff of legends... a Sonic Rainboom! I can do anything!
...
...hey, that's it!
"Rainbow Dash!" Soarin shouted loudly. "Whatever you're about to do, don't you dare! As your captain, I forbid it!"
But it was too late. Rainbow Dash had already flown off as fast as she could. "Catch me if ya can, fail-tails!"
"All of you! After her!" the leader commanded as the griffons gave chase.
"DASH, NO!"
As Rainbow Dash got as far away as necessary, she landed and turned, pointing herself towards the griffons, who were a fair length away, but charging down at her fast.
Perfect.
"Alright guys!" she yelled, staring up at them. "I only did this once at a wedding, but it doesn't have to be a special occasion for me to whoop you with it!"
She then grinned and positioned herself for take-off. Her eyes were fearless, despite her scared heart.
Then, her wings flapped like never before, and she took off at a stunning speed towards the group of griffons, feeling the sound barrier pushing against her body.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
As a rainbow exploded out from behind her, she made contact, and everything went black.