Xaqtly's fanfic thread

Xaqtly · **Joined:** Fri Oct 31, 2008 8:17 pm **Posts:** 267

Thank you, guys. You support is greatly appreciated, and I'm happy you enjoy my stories. I

all of you.

And now onto new business: I have begun work on my next story. I was just as surprised as some of you may be when this happened, but it happened, and I'm writing it.

It's called Heart of Steele, and you get one guess as to who it's about.

Now I've posted before saying I don't like Steele. He's a very nasty character, willing to do anything, including letting a town full of children die, just to make himself look better or to get revenge on Balto. Of course in the movie, Balto exposes his lies and the door is shut on him, literally.

So a couple days ago I was just thinking about various unrelated things, and it hit me. It hit me so hard it almost knocked me over. I had to very literally stop what I was doing and start writing. Like, right that second. And just like that, the story was formed in my head. I don't know what caused it or why it was about Steele of all characters, but there it was.

Now I know this is one of those things that's already been done several hundred times here on Balto Source. I don't know exactly how many fanfics there are that go into what happened to Steele after the movie, but I bet it's a lot. Despite that, I believe this story will fly on its own merits. I'm bringing my particular brand of storytelling to the party, and at least in my head this is a good story, one worth telling.

So I'm going to ask that you guys trust me on this one, even those of you who hate Steele. I'm putting as much effort into this story as I have all my others, and I believe the final result will be worth reading. It's going to cover what happened to Steele after the serum run, but it will also cover some stuff from his past, and go with him as he makes his new future.

If nothing else, at least it's something for all the Steele lovers on the site, right?

I've only just started it, so it will be a while before it's finished. I'll post a section of it when I think I've got one that's good for posting.

Thanks again for sticking with me, and thanks for reading.

-X

Idy · **Posted:** Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:21 pm

Xaqtly wrote:

Thank you, guys. You support is greatly appreciated, and I'm happy you enjoy my stories. I

all of you.

And now onto new business: I have begun work on my next story. I was just as surprised as some of you may be when this happened, but it happened, and I'm writing it.

It's called Heart of Steele, and you get one guess as to who it's about.

Now I've posted before saying I don't like Steele. He's a very nasty character, willing to do anything, including letting a town full of children die, just to make himself look better or to get revenge on Balto. Of course in the movie, Balto exposes his lies and the door is shut on him, literally.

So a couple days ago I was just thinking about various unrelated things, and it hit me. It hit me so hard it almost knocked me over. I had to very literally stop what I was doing and start writing. Like, right that second. And just like that, the story was formed in my head. I don't know what caused it or why it was about Steele of all characters, but there it was.

Now I know this is one of those things that's already been done several hundred times here on Balto Source. I don't know exactly how many fanfics there are that go into what happened to Steele after the movie, but I bet it's a lot. Despite that, I believe this story will fly on its own merits. I'm bringing my particular brand of storytelling to the party, and at least in my head this is a good story, one worth telling.

So I'm going to ask that you guys trust me on this one, even those of you who hate Steele. I'm putting as much effort into this story as I have all my others, and I believe the final result will be worth reading. It's going to cover what happened to Steele after the serum run, but it will also cover some stuff from his past, and go with him as he makes his new future.

If nothing else, at least it's something for all the Steele lovers on the site, right?

I've only just started it, so it will be a while before it's finished. I'll post a section of it when I think I've got one that's good for posting.

Thanks again for sticking with me, and thanks for reading.

-X

I can't wait to see the new story. I kinda wish that story ideas would whack me over the head every once in a while, though. :lol:

I wish you the best of luck, and you can be sure I'll read Heart of Steele.

-Iditarod

Xaqtly · **Joined:** Fri Oct 31, 2008 8:17 pm **Posts:** 267

Thanks Iditarod. I hope you'll like it when it's done.

Also, I meant to say this in my above post, but forgot to when I was writing it: I've noticed some of the Steele fanfics on the site have a revenge motif, and it seems like Steele is always waiting at the edge of the forest for his chance to get back at Balto.

I just want to say up front that Heart of Steele will have no such thing. Oh he's angry, he's infuriated even. But petty revenge? Nah. :mrgreen:

VividEnigma · **Posted:** Mon Jan 05, 2009 2:04 am

I am most certainly looking for to the next fanfic, Xaqtly! I like the name, too. I can never think of creative names like that. But it will be interesting to here you version of what happened to Steele.

Xaqtly · **Joined:** Fri Oct 31, 2008 8:17 pm **Posts:** 267

Vivid.

Well I wanted to give you something to go on, so here's a small tidbit.

Quote:

Steele jumped as an overhead light was turned on, and he looked up to see a grey and white female husky looking at him with a decidedly perturbed expression on her face. Steele recovered quickly and grinned at her.

"As a matter of fact I am," he said as he took another bite. He watched as the husky's expression changed from perturbed to angry. He flashed her a toothy grin and held her stare with his steely blue eyes.

The husky continued to stare him down. "Those blue eyes may work on the girls where you come from but they won't work on me," she said through her teeth. "How dare you come into our town, steal meat from our butcher and make yourself at home in one of our barns? Who do you think you are?"

Steele ate the last of the meat, and made a big show of licking his paws and cleaning his face before answering her. He looked up to meet her stare, and she was clearly furious. He held her stare again and grinned. "The name is Steele. Maybe you've heard of me, I'm the fastest and strongest lead dog in Alaska."

-X

Idy · **Posted:** Tue Jan 06, 2009 7:41 pm

Nice snippet! I'm quite curious as to the identity of the grey and white female husky, I must admit.

VividEnigma · **Posted:** Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:28 pm

Iditarod wrote:

Nice snippet! I'm quite curious as to the identity of the grey and white female husky, I must admit.

Mmm-hmm. I think I can guess where this one's going--- but then again, I could be completely wrong. Nice work (as always) Xaqtly. :thumright:

MudTheWolf · **Posted:** Wed Jan 07, 2009 2:23 am

Hmm, I`m curious as well, though I don`t read much anymore, I`ll read that one.

Xaqtly · **Joined:** Fri Oct 31, 2008 8:17 pm **Posts:** 267

Thanks. I'm pretty happy with the story so far, and with the mysterious white and grey husky. She has a name, I'm just not revealing it yet.

Vivid, I'm not sure where you think it's going, but I hope it'll still be a bit of a surprise. I'm only up to Chapter 2, I still have a lot of writing to do.

Juuchan17 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:31 am

Ooh, a Steele fic from you?! That is quite a surprise.

I've delved into writing a fic about him too (the first chapter's in my gallery - "Steele: Carpe Diem" . . . but it's nowhere close to being finished!), but I'll admit that I never really liked him. Although I only started writing that fic because I wondered how tough his past must have been to make him be so . . . selfish and self-centered (as well as prejudice against wolves and half-breeds), I can see why others like writing "what happened afterwards?" stories about Steele.

The snippet sounds really good . . . and makes you think "Who is this girl and what will happen next?" I can't wait to find out!

- Juuchan17

Xaqtly · **Joined:** Fri Oct 31, 2008 8:17 pm **Posts:** 267

I'm actually really excited about this story. It's coming along very nicely so far I think. And that husky girl... let's just say that she's more than a match for Steele and his ego.

And yeah, that's mostly why I wanted to write it too, and the first chapter is all Steele's backstory. I'll put up another piece of the story after I've gotten further into it. Actually... here's a bit from the backstory section, to give you an idea of the direction I went with Steele's past.

Quote:

Even at such a young age, he was beginning to know what power felt like. Power over his fellow dogs, and even over humans. As he grew older in his owner's household, he learned the balance of power and how to tip it in his favor. He was a quick learner, and he figured out how to make his owners think he was doing everything they wanted him to, while he just did whatever he wanted. When it came down to disobedience, all he had to do was be affectionate to his humans for a few minutes, and he would win them over again.

He developed a devastating penchant for using his good looks and bright blue eyes in conjunction with his rapidly increasing intelligence and physical size to get anything he wanted from anybody. After a very short time, he didn't even have to try any more. It came naturally to him, and making other dogs and even humans do what he wanted simply became second nature.

When it came time to train him to be a sled dog, he excelled right from the start, as he knew he would. His size advantage made him more powerful than the other dogs, and he breezed through his training without even needing to put any effort into it. When it was completed, he was put directly into the lead dog spot without having ever pulled a sled outside of training. He knew how to manipulate the humans to get what he wanted, and he had the strength and endurance to back it up.

-X

VividEnigma · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 7:05 pm

Oooh... I'm intrigued. A manipulative young puppy, Steele was, now wasn't he? Lol. :bounce:

I'm nearly bouncing in anticipation! But don't rush!

jarcieri · **Joined:** Sun Dec 14, 2008 1:05 pm **Posts:** 9

Ok xaqtly I am litterally pumped about your new fanfic!

I am just like you in the fact that I really really really don't like Steele. I mean it's almost hate haha. He's just one of hose characters that you love to hate. However I love your writting and I can't wait to see where you go with the story. I would love to find out what made Steele such a douche. And you are really good at egging us on with your little snipbits:)

Oh, I have to tell you, since I felt your writting was so good I have just decided to read it as truth and that it is actually part of the whole balto story. Once again , I cannot wait until you finish!

Anxiously awaiting he arrival of more writting gold
Jarcieri

MudTheWolf · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:23 pm

I reckon Xaqtly`s fanfics are some of the best on the site, but I`d say he is level with DT (Dragon Tamer) awesomeness XD

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Xaqtly's fanfic thread