Author's note: Writer's block sucks. I really hate writer's block. Oh yeah and also, I've got good news and bad news.
Bad news: For some stupid reason, this site won't allow outtakes or anything else in script format. So for that reason, there are two features that I can't put up here for fear of having my account suspended and my stories removed. That happened to an old friend of mine once, for a different violation.
Good news: I happen to have a DeviantArt account as well, and they don't have any such rule. (at least that I've seen) And I've got this series on there already, along with all of the bonus features. So if you want to see both parts, go to my profile and there'll be a link to part 2 at the bottom. I would ask that you read both halves before reviewing here though. Unless you're a DA member, then you can just leave me a comment there.
The Double Agent: Bonus Features – Part 1
Deleted Scenes
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Firstly, there's one last deleted scene from Somebody to Love, that I couldn't tell you about then because it would spoil this story. Since I didn't think I'd write a sequel, I was going to have Zina's father and brother visit in the end, along with Buzz and Max. But as I was thinking about how to write the scene, I suddenly came up with the idea for this story and decided to cut those two spirits out. (See Inspirations section for more details.)
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Here's another idea I had for the dream sequence in which Max visits Timon to tell him about how he unknowingly avenged Buzz and to warn him about Kibaya's attack. I changed this scene because I wanted to give Max a reason for getting on the subject of hyenas first.
Timon's heart sank as he looked around the oasis. It had been almost completely overrun by dozens of hostile meerkats. Everywhere he looked, his fellow meerkats were being overwhelmed by invaders.
Falling to his knees, he cried out, "Why?! How could this possibly be happening?"
"That's simple." a voice behind him said, "It isn't."
That voice sounded familiar. Timon slowly turned around. Standing in front of him was a meerkat, whom he recognized. In fact, it was none other than…
"Uncle Max?!?"
"That's right." Max replied, "I was given permission to visit you again, but only in your dreams."
"…You mean… this whole invasion…"
"Is all a dream. And you should probably be thankful for that. Now I'm gonna need you to try and stay asleep, because I've got some important things to tell you and I don't know if I'll ever be able to do this again."
"Alright, I'm listening."
"Good. But first let's get rid of these invaders, shall we?"
Max snapped his fingers and instantly, all of the hostile meerkats disappeared and everyone was relaxing as if nothing happened. Timon looked around in amazement and smiled.
"Amazing what you can do in a dream, once you're in control, ain't it?" Max said.
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Originally, the ending was going to be slightly different. But then I stumbled across a fanart picture of baby Timon with his parents. After seeing that picture, I decided to change the first part of the epilogue by putting Timon, Zina, and little Axel in that position. The conversation with Johari in the end was originally going to be a bit shorter as well.
Timon walked through the oasis, holding his now two-week-old son, Axel. He tickled Axel's chin and playfully pulled his finger away as Axel tried to grab it. Then he put his hand around Axel's nose and pulled back his fist with his thumb sticking out between his fingers.
"Haha! Got your nose!" he said, "Try and get it! Come on, get your nose!"
Axel just giggled as he watched his father's hand move back and forth. Finally, Timon gave up with a sigh.
"Not gonna fall for it, huh?"
Timon shrugged and continued on his way, stopping only to glance at Iron Joe; who was being given a back rub by one of the new females in the gang.
"Aaaah!" Joe sighed with pleasure, "That's much better!"
When the girl finished, she asked, "Ready to give me mine now?"
"Oh, just you try and stop me!"
The girl giggled and assumed the position as Joe got up and prepared to massage her back.
"Let's hope his sanity stays with him for good this time." Timon muttered to Axel.
Little Axel yawned, leaned against Timon's chest, and slowly started to fall asleep. Timon smiled and stroked Axel's fur. As he headed to his and Zina's nest, he suddenly noticed Pumbaa sitting near the lake by the waterfall. Pumbaa; who seemed pretty depressed, sighed heavily as he looked at his reflection in the water.
Timon walked up to him and asked, "Hey, you feelin' okay, Pumbaa?"
Pumbaa hesitated, then replied, "Well, actually, Timon… lately, I've been feeling kinda lonely."
"Lonely? Whattaya mean? The gang's almost doubled in size, the lions still visit now and then, and we just got a new member of our… family…"
Timon paused.
"Oh, I see what you mean now." he said.
"Yeah." Pumbaa responded, "I'm glad I have you, all the other meerkats and the lions to hang out with and all, but… well, I just think it'd be nice if I could find a partner to start my own family with."
"Well, don't worry, pal. Maybe next time we go to visit the pridelands, we'll find you a potential mate. Or who knows? Maybe she'll come here, looking for-"
"Excuse me." a voice behind them said.
Timon and Pumbaa turned around and to their astonishment, a female warthog was standing there.
"Hi there." she said, "Could either of you help me? I'm trying to find… umm… now what did he call it again…? A Kahuna Colada? No, that wasn't it. Hunky-tuna Tostada? No… umm…"
Pumbaa and Timon stared back for a bit, then Pumbaa finally asked, "You mean, Hakuna Matata?"
"Yeah! That's it!"
"Well miss… uh…"
"Johari."
"Well miss Johari, you've come to the right place."
With a smirk, Timon patted Pumbaa's back and said, "I'll let you two talk."
And with that, he made his way back to his nest.
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Inspirations
Here I'm going to describe things from movies, video games, etc. that have inspired scenes from my stories. Yes, both stories, not just this one. There are a few other minor inspirations that I've left out though, because I didn't think they were very important and didn't want to bore you.
Video games:
Act of War – An RTS game, where you're fighting against a terrorist group that are bent on becoming the one and only supplier of oil in the world… I think. It's been a while since I played it. Well, anyway, that's not important.
In that game, when one of your infantry units gets wounded badly, he'll fall and start losing health until he either gets captured or revived. He'll also shout something like, "I'm hit! And I'm losing blood!" or "Christ! I've lost half my arm!"
- I thought about that second quote and then suddenly had an idea for a story in which Zina's brother survived the hyena attack. Though if he had survived, I'd need some kind of indication that would make her think that he was dead. So I thought, why not have him lose half of his arm?
Splinter Cell: Double Agent – This is a game where you join a terrorist group and try to destroy them from within. There are things you can do for the government in order to keep their trust, and things you can do for the terrorists in order to maintain your cover.
- I've never played this game, but I read a lot about it and so it was part of the inspiration for this fic's premise. As well as the story's title.
Star Wars Trilogy Arcade – During the battle of Hoth, a message pops up that says, "Assist your rebel friend!" You do so by firing at a certain target area on at AT-AT walker, thereby distracting it while another snowspeeder uses its harpoon to bring the walker down. If you succeed, the walker falls and the pilot says, "Whoa, that got him!" Then another message says "Good assistance!"
- That was the inspiration for the scene in StL, where Flinchy distracts Bob while Stumpy restrains him.
Quest for Glory 4 – When you first arrive in town, the people there are all suspicious of you because a heavy swamp has the town cut off from the outside world. As a result, there have been no newcomers in years. But over time, you start winning the people over by doing heroic deeds and helping them out. After a while, you find out that the innkeepers' daughter was kidnapped and turned into a vampire. You eventually manage to find her, restore her to life, and bring her back home. After that, everyone in town loves you and sees you as a true hero.
Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, the swamp clears up in the end of the game so tourists are able to come to town again.
- I decided to make a subtle reference to that game in StL, by having Zina start earning the other meerkats' trust and finally win over Max, by rescuing little Gus from peril.
Resident Evil #1 – In Jill's story, there's a scene where she overhears Barry talking to Wesker. When Barry leaves the room and sees Jill, she asks who he was talking to. Barry says that age is taking its toll on him and making him talk to himself.
- I referenced the game by having Takata, Kali, and Pumbaa do a scene like that in TDA; using dialogue similar to Jill, Barry, and Wesker's lines.
Songs:
Somebody to Love, by Queen – This song was of course, the inspiration for the title of the previous story. But it was also the inspiration for the whole love story part, and the creation of Zina.
We Close Our Eyes, by Oingo Boingo – The following quote from this song inspired the scene in StL, where Timon first sees the reflection of Buzz, but doesn't recognize him.
"I looked Death in the face last night
I saw him in a mirror
And he simply smiled
He told me not to worry
He told me just to take my time"
Although I didn't know he was talking about Death in the song, until after I'd written most of the story.
TV:
Brisco County Jr. – In the pilot episode, Brisco's father (Brisco County Sr.) is murdered by an escaped gang of outlaws that he had previously apprehended. Brisco Jr., a bounty hunter, is given the job of hunting down that gang and bringing them to justice. In a later episode, his father's spirit comes back one last time, to assist him.
- This was the inspiration for the spirit of Buzz visiting Timon in StL, to give him advice and later to congratulate him on a job well done.
Meerkat Manor – In one episode, the Whiskers' gang fights off an attack by the Zappa gang. In their hasty retreat, the Zappas leave behind a pup named Axel. Mitch, a member of the Whiskers, is out foraging later on when he hears little Axel crying. Mitch then finds Axel, picks him up, and takes him back to the Whiskers' burrow, where he's adopted into the gang.
- To reference the show; or more specifically, that episode, I named Zina's father Mitch and her son Axel.
M&Ms commercial – In one commercial, Orange is complaining about how people are always eating the crispy ones until Yellow licks him. Afterwards, Red licks him. Then as Yellow is about to lick him again, Orange grabs his tongue and glares at him. Then Yellow says, "Sowwy."
- After remembering that commercial, I decided to write a scene similar to it in the chapter where Bob finds Timon unconscious and decides to taste him.
Plays:Much Ado About Nothing – There are two characters, Benedick and Beatrice, who despise each other in the beginning. But later on, they each overhear staged conversations about how the other person is in love with them. And eventually, the two end up falling in love.
- This inspired the two scenes in StL, where Timon and Zina have the same thing happen to them. The difference being that Timon and Zina really do have the hots for each other when they hear the conversations, and the conversing meerkats are unaware that they're being heard by Zina/Timon.
Movies:
A Bug's Life – Molt, the grasshopper, was the inspiration for the creation of Bob. Molt is very talkative, a bit demented, and adds some comic relief to the movie. And I thought my story could use a character like him. Thus, Bob was created.
Last, and not least…
Shaun of the Dead – This inspiration is probably the most important one of all, because watching one of the scenes in this movie is what inspired me to write StL. Specifically, the scene where Shaun's stepfather, Phillip, is succumbing to his zombie bite wound and gives Shaun a short speech about how he always loved him.
- Looking at that scene, I pictured Timon and Max in the places of Shaun and Phillip, respectively. That's how I came up with Max's death scene; which was the very first scene I wrote. After writing that scene, I had an idea for a story in which Max would die and give control of the meerkat colony to Timon; who would then rally them to defeat an incoming threat. Although I wasn't able to write a whole lot more, until the love story part was inspired.
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Well, that's all there is for part 1. To see part 2, go to my profile and click on the link at the bottom.