At that moment, a bright flash of lightning filled the skies, followed almost immediately by a roaring clap of thunder. The rain began to come down... even harder than before, while the winds began to howl furiously, like wolves chasing after their prey. Ink-stained newspapers could be seen sweeping across the nearby streets, and the dim street lights could barely be seen under the deluge that was now making its presence known.

Yet, in spite of all of this, one lone rabbit had just made it to the front door of the tavern. As he slowly opened it, he was met with dead silence... a sound he never expected to hear in a place such as this.

"Man, this place sure has changed the last time I came here," the stranger thought to himself as he entered the tavern. "The last time I was here, it was full of life. I can't believe so much could change in six months!"

Shutting the door behind him, the stranger began to head for an unoccupied table, when he suddenly noticed someone who looked very familiar to him. The fact that she was carrying around an Admin Rod only helped to confirm that suspicion.

The stranger walked over to the table where she was sitting. "Is anyone else sitting here?" he calmly asked once he was at his destination.

"No, not really...."

"Would you mind if I..."

"No, not really," was the woman's response.

Sitting himself down, the stranger began a conversation with the young female rabbit. "Well, Cobra... it looks like you haven't changed a bit since the last time I saw you."

Cobra's eyes instantly became as wide as saucers. "How on Carrotus do you know my name?" she questioned. "Have we met before or something?"

"I'm pretty sure you have. After all, you were the one who ended up obtaining the legendary Diamondus Blaster, were you not?"

If Cobra's eyes had gotten any wider, they would have dropped right out of their sockets! "How do you know THAT?!" she inquired. "Who are you?"

"Maybe it would be better if you saw me, rather than just heard my voice."

With that, the stranger removed his cloak, letting it rest on the back of the chair. A bright blue rabbit was hidden underneath, having a matching color blaster holstered to his belt. Around his neck was a medallion of a darker blue, upon which a jaguar was engraved on it. On the palms of his hands were dark blue stars, matching the color of the medallion.

"Recognize me now, Cobra?"

"Oh, my gosh...! Is that you, Elias?!"

"The last time I checked, it was!"

Upon hearing this, Cobra promptly fainted.

"Um... can we get some water over here?" Elias queried, obviously embarrassed at what happened.

*Feel free to continue from here.*
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Elias FF-- making a much-needed return to the Jazz 2 community!