Story #1: Taiki +1
Part 2: Wedding Day

The last thing Shoutmon ever expected was a frantic Lilimon racing toward the alter. His eyes narrowed as the she arrived in the centre of the village in which the audience, the groom, best man, and Jijimon were, immediately sensing that something was wrong. Taiki became alert. Akari and the rest of the audience looked around and began to whisper among themselves. Shoutmon approached Lilimon, his heart beating with a tad of concern. Was his bride all right? Was a trouble-making Digimon about to crash the ceremony? Did someone taste the wedding cake before the reception?

"Lilimon?" asked Shoutmon. "What's wrong?"

The fairy Digimon caught her breath before directly speaking to her king. "Your Majesty, Lunamon is missing," she cried. "There's no trace of her. I only left the building for a few minutes to check on the food supply for the reception and when I returned, she was gone! Like she disappeared out of thin air. How can this be?"

Everyone was silent...well, technically everyone but Akari who jumped out of her seat and clasped her hands together, her expression extravagant and eyes shining. "You proposed to Lunamon?" she squealed. "The Lunamon from Disc Zone? The same one that you gave the DigiNoir too?" She started a little dance. "That is adorable, Shoutmon! I'm so happy for you!"

"Uh...Akari...?"

Akari stared at Taiki for less than a second before taking control of her posture. She blushed and waved off the audience and the king, laughing lightly. "Sorry...sorry...a little moment of mine there..." She cleared her throat before clenching her fists, the same as Taiki. "What are we waiting for? Let's go search for your bride, Shoutmon!" With a determined grin, she pointed directly at the Digimon King.

But Shoutmon was no longer in the spot. Taiki jerked back, eyes widened and a little spooked. "Shoutmon? What–" He looked up and saw that Shoutmon was making his way out of the village and into the wilderness in the Green Zone.

"Hey...!" cried Taiki. "Hey! Shoutmon! Wouldn't you like any help?"

The Digimon King stopped and chuckled, his eyes closed. He shook his head and started off again.

"No thanks, Taiki. I know this Zone like the back of my hand. She wouldn't have gone far. You...provide the entertainment until I return. We won't be long."

Entertain them...? Taiki glanced to the side where the concerned audience was waiting. He then looked to Akari, who stood up once again to help him out. A smile appeared on his face as she went to his side. They looked to the Digimon, and one of them raised a hand. Taiki nodded and let it speak.

"So...if the king and his bride happen to...like, elope, far, far away...could you and your human friend replace them? Maybe we could hurry it up, so that we can get a piece of cake..."

Stunned by the comments, Taiki and Akari looked at each other, blushing red. Questions such as that were very dangerous.

oOo

The sun had set beyond the trees and Village of Smiles. Shoutmon never broke a sweat as he hiked up the biggest hill out of every one in Green Zone. Once he reached the peak, he saw a sight that made his heart ache. In the clearing, there lay a rabbit Digimon. Her head rested against a rock, while her body in her gown was lying in the grass. Her large ears fell to her cheeks and the back of her head, as if they were lifeless. She didn't care whether or not that a wild monster would creep out of the forest and destroy her. When her ears picked up on said wild monster, she didn't dare turn her head to look at it. The shadow seemed awfully familiar, though...

Straightening his tie, Shoutmon lay down beside his lovely bride and wrapped his arms around her waist. He nuzzled the tip of one of her ears with his spiky snout and kissed her bare shoulder.

"Hi, baby," he smiled.

"Why did you come here?" asked Lunamon aloud. Her voice was very soft and hoarse from crying earlier. "Didn't you know that it's bad luck if you see the bride before the wedding?" Her lips trembled as she heard his laugh. The laugh she loved so dearly.

"But the wedding already started," teased Shoutmon. "Everyone was waiting for your arrival...but instead, we received a message from Lilimon. She said that you were missing, and I had a hunch on where you were. The question is, why did you come here?"

The king removed his arms from his future queen's waist and allowed for her to roll over. Pain was in her eyes. Tears dampened her cheeks. If she had teeth, she'd have been gritting them right now, but she did not. Lunamon took a deep breath before changing the subject with a statement that she thought was true.

"Because I'm not good enough for you."

She expected him to flinch or smirk and say that she was right, but Shoutmon did neither of those things. He placed a hand to her cheek and caressed it to ease her negative thoughts.

"What are you talking about? Of course you are, Lunamon..."

"No, I'm not!" she retorted. "I'm not strong enough to become Digimon Queen, Shoutmon! I'm weak...I'm weak, and what if I stay as Lunamon forever?"

"You won't," cooed Shoutmon. "Growing up takes time, Lunamon. One day, you'll reach your future form, just like me. You're not weak. You are strong enough to be Digimon Queen...my queen. You tell yourself that you may not look like it on the outside, but in here..." He pressed a hand to her chest. "...in here, you're strong. You're kind-hearted to those around you, even though there are some who look down on you. That's a strength that the Digital World still needs today...and I need it too. You're the one who calms me down whenever I got into a fuss with Gumdramon, or my head is in too much stress...you ease it right away. And when you're not confident enough, or scared...I'm your boost. Like what I'm doing right now. I love you, Lunamon. And I love you for who you are. And today...we are going to marry, whether you like it or not."

He wiped her eyes with a thumb and the first time that evening, saw Lunamon smile. Her eyes cried in happiness as Shoutmon stood, helping her along in the process.

They were in silence for a few minutes as they walked down the hill.

"I'm sorry for running away," apologized Lunamon.

"It's all right," said Shoutmon. "I suppose that runaway brides are sometimes fun to chase after."

oOo

The wedding was off schedule, but it was grand to have both the king and his bride back at dusk. Lanterns around the entire village were lit and finally the wedding had begun. During the ceremony as Jijimon spoke, Shoutmon and Lunamon made eye-contact with one another throughout the speech before they turned to face each other. Shoutmon gave his love's paw a gentle squeeze. Taiki smiled proudly as the two Digimon said their vows. Akari's eyes twinkled as she watched them unite in a kiss. She was practically drooling. Right afterwards, Lunamon threw her bouquet high into the sky with the most joyful expression she could muster.

"I've got it!" said a female Digimon.

"No, I've got it!" said another.

"You're all wrong!" screeched a third. "I'm the one who will be getting married next, and that's that!"

Lunamon's eyes lit up as she watched the flowers fall. But Shoutmon's weren't occupied on the bouquet. When Lunamon was happy, he was happy. And yet, his gaze ended too soon when he heard the scream of an over-excited girl catching the bouquet. And the girl happened to be no other than the human girl, Hinomoto Akari.

"Nice catch Akari," Taiki congratulated her. With a smirk, Akari linked arms with him and waved the bouquet of flowers over her head.

"How about we get ourselves a piece of cake, Taiki?" she offered, her free hand tugging at his tie. "My treat." She turned her attention to Shoutmon and Lunamon and said, "Hey, would it be all right if you guys could cut the cake...now where are they?" Taiki followed her gaze and saw that Shoutmon and Lunamon had disappeared.

Again.

For a second time. Akari let out a heavy breath and placed her hands on her hips. "Oh, come on! They can't be on their honeymoon already without slicing their cake first! It's tradition! Even for Digimon!"

The angry redhead dragged her date by the tie, Taiki's black shoes becoming spoiled by the dirt kicking up on the trail. Akari dragged him to the nearest home and searched beyond it...and found Shoutmon and Lunamon resting against the building. Lunamon sat in her king's lap and pointed out various stars which connected to be the legendary Royal Knights. She asked Shoutmon if any of them were correct, and he shook his head. He explained about their features and appearances, but was proud of her for trying. He rewarded her with a loving kiss on the cheek.

Akari was about to say something when Taiki whispered in her ear.

"Let's leave them alone for now."

The girl nodded with a hidden smile. She turned to Taiki, and together, returned to the inside of the village, holding hands.

oOo

A/N: The continuation to Taiki +1 is here, written by ShoutToTheStars, so give thanks for their hard work.

Work on the first prompt-given story is ongoing.

Please, review, prompt, and otherwise, enjoy this story.