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Dar'gul groaned and grunted as he waddled down the corridor to greet the chieftain of his tribe. It had been 50 weeks since the chieftain made Dar'gul one of his personal servants and now the long awaited day had come. Internally, Dar'gul was sighing in relief. He had been stuck in what he called a labor limbo for several weeks now and he was ready to pop all seven orclings out into the world. However, he couldn't relax just yet. Since he was chosen personally, the chieftain had to make a point to have a ceremony to "crown the birth of a new breed of warrior", as he put it. Dar'gul slowly approached the end of the corridor that would lead to the exhibition hall, and where he would speak personally to the head of his tribe. He stopped a few feet away to greet his chieftain and look him in the eyes. He needed to be strong, show no weakness in his heart. He may not have chosen this act of service, but he was commited now.

Yes, he had to be strong... for his seven orclings. For his children.

"Are you ready, Dar'gul?" the chieftain asked, not hint of a smile on his face. Dar'gul knew that face anywhere; stone cold and unflinching. It was the face he swore to serve at all costs.

"Y-yes," Dar'gul replied, mustering just enough strength for a response.

"This is an upmost important ceremony, one that will require a great deal of you," the chieftain explained. He paused for a moment and laid a hand on Dar'gul's shoulder. "Do you know why I chose you?" Dar'gul answered with a shake to his head. He never quite understood why the chieftain chose a simple warrior to serve him in this manner. But now the chieftain was about to give his answer. "It is because you are one of the strongest warriors of our clan. Other orc clans sing of your exploits, comparing you to the warriors of old. I need someone like you on my side." The chieftain then got in rather uncomfortably close, to the point where Dar'gul could smell his breath. "But I must ask... is this what you truly want?"

Dar'gul was at a loss for words. Answering yes would be easy right now, but that wasn't true. He never wanted this. He was forced into this situation when all he wanted was to be a simple warrior that would protect his tribe. But it was his solemn duty to serve his chieftain, no matter what. So he accepted it, even though it meant untold pain. Swallowing down his own doubts, Dar'gul finally gave his answer.

"It... wasn't my choice to bear your children," he started, not daring to look his chieftain in the face. "I was only chosen because you asked me. And I accepted because you are my chieftain. However," Regaining a small bit of confidence, Dar'gul returned his gaze to his chieftain. "I believe that whatever destiny you have for me will not only benefit me, but the tribe as a whole. And for all our people. So yes, if it means serving and protecting our clan... I desire this task." After a brief moment, the chieftain let out a small smirk and then moved to Dar'gul's ear.

"I knew I made the right choice," he started, moving away and patting Dar'gul's shoulder. "You'll serve us well..."

The two exited the corridor and were greeted with the cheers of their orcish brothers and sisters. Dar'gul could recognize his tribe dead center, but what surprised him was the presence of orcs from other tribes. Before he could ask, the chieftain brushed by him and whispered in his ear.

"Their fate will be in your hands now..."

As the chieftain moved up on the exhibition platform, Dar'gul felt an incredibly strong contraction seize him. It was so strong that he was forced to his knees, clutching his belly as he felt something inside start moving downward. It took everything in his power not to scream. This was it! It was time!

"My brothers and sisters, my fathers and mothers," the chieftain started, he voice traveling to every orc in the vicinity. "Today is a fine day indeed, for we are to be blessed by the birth of a new warrior!" All the orcs cheered, but Dar'gul was too distracted by the pain of labor to pay much attention. However, he needed to hear his chieftain's words in the event that there were specific instructions. "Long have we waited for the rebirth of the seven great warriors that once saved our race eons ago, and now that day has finally come!"

'Wait? Seven great warriors? Rebirth?' Questions were running through Dar'gul's mind. 'What the devil is he talking about?'

"I have chosen a proud warrior that has served me well... one with the strength of the seven warriors! And it is through that strength that our greatest legend will be reborn!" As the words left the chieftain's mouth, Dar'gul's heart dropped faster than a stone. He didn't want to believe it. He couldn't believe it. But it was actually happening. Talk of the seven great warriors? An orc warrior impregnated with seven children? Even an idiot could figure it out from there. "Now, as the stars align to grant me the powers of the gods, let us bare witness to the rebirth of the Seven Legendary Warriors!"

Now the cheers of the many clans were deafening. Dar'gul could hardly think over the noise. Even worse, the orclings inside him were becoming more and more restless and were ready to be freed. Then a stray thought returned to Dar'gul's mind, something that he promised many moons ago...

"At least you orclings will have a choice..."

Dar'gul could feel his heart breaking into shards as he found himself powerless to the situation before him. The children that he had sworn to give a choice were now instruments like himself. Like their father, they had no choice. They had their destiny decided for them. And Dar'gul couldn't do anything to stop it. The heavily pregnant orc felt the words on his mouth. He wanted to say them, but he couldn't. He would be executed on the spot for defying his chieftain. His reputation and his clan's reputation would be dragged through the mud. But he wanted to say it anyway. Because at that moment, he found the one thing he personally wanted to protect. Something more precious than service to his leader. A family.

It was a simple, four letter word.

Stop.

But it was too late.

In an instant, a glow of light entrapped Dar'gul's body as the chieftain summoned the very power of the gods to begin the ceremony. An indescribable pain shot through Dar'gul's body, centering itself in his womb where the orclings were stirring. So much was going on that Dar'gul felt as if he was going insane. The cheers, the orcling's struggle, the light, the magic seeping into him. It was all too much. And then, finally, like a glass breaking onto the floor, he felt something pierce through the souls of the seven orclings. So much so that even Dar'gul felt it. That sharp pain was the final shot to Dar'gul's resolve. And with it, several months of pain, anguish, and now feelings of betrayal finally reached the surface. As the ceremony continued, Dar'gul raised his head towards the heavens with tears in his eyes...

...and screamed.

The rest of the ceremony was a blank as Dar'gul slowly woke up to an unfamiliar ceiling. He attempted to get up, only to be forced back down by an incredible surge of pain. He gasped for air and looked up to see his round belly still rising high in the air. More questions popped up in his head...

'What happened? Did the ceremony fail? Why am I still so big? Did it stop?'

Dar'gul laid a hand upon his belly and then felt a strong kick, which pained him into a writhing grunt. Nope, he was still pregnant. Meaning the orclings were still alive. But the question is why? Before he could even begin to ponder the answer...

"Glad to see you're awake," said a familiar voice. Dar'gul turned to his left to see one of female elder orcs setting a tray of tea by his bed mantle. She greeted him with a warm smile as she poured a cup. "You've undergone a rather painful ordeal. It will take time to get accustomed to your new body."

"Grandmother," Dar'gul asked weakly, just barely able to stay awake due to pure exhaustion. "What... happened to me? Did... the ceremony... fail?"

"Oh yes," she started, sitting down next to his bedside. "I suppose I should be the one to tell you. The revival of the seven great warriors... was a success. But not in the way you might be imagining."

"What?" Dar'gul asked incredulously.

"You see, the ceremony was meant to implant the souls of the seven great warriors into seven unborn orclings. Once done, they would be reborn into our world to serve us again. Though it seems only the first condition was met. As for the second," she paused, taking a sip from her cup. "It seems that the seven warriors have decided not be reborn, but rather... reincarnated." Dar'gul sat there trying to process the information given to him. There was still something that didn't make sense.

"So why am I still pregnant?" he asked. "Their souls are implanted and I went into labor as soon as the ceremony began. Why are they still stirring inside of me?"

"That is where you come in," she explained. "You seem to have more in common with the seven warriors than we thought. So much so that all of their past experience and powers were inherited to you, making you their reincarnation. But because you already house your own soul, the souls have to be housed elsewhere to act as a medium for you to summon their powers."

"But that doesn't explain why I'm still pregnant! If I'm now their reincarnation, then they have no need for my orclings, right?!"

"Were you not paying attention?" she asked flatly, pointing to Dar'gul's engorged belly. "Their souls are now attached to the unborn orclings, which now act as a medium for your powers as their reincarnation." It took a moment, Dar'gul quickly understood what she meant. The seven orclings he was to give birth to were now the hosts of the souls of the Seven Legendary Warriors and because of this, he could use all of the powers of these seven warriors. In other words, he essentially became a power incubator. With that, Dar'gul returned to look at the ceiling. The revelation, as it slowly sunk in, made him sick to his stomach.

"I take it this means that I'm stuck like this?" Dar'gul asked.

"Yes," the elder responded. "The orcling's lifeforce is connected to yours, as is the warrior's souls. If they leave your body, your connection to them will be cut-off. Though what this means is that your body will be stuck in a perpetual state of labor, meaning that you will feel the urge to give birth, but nothing will come of it." The elder soon got up to remove herself from the room, but not before turning to Dar'gul again. “However, you have managed to survive for this long so I doubt this will change anything.” And with that, the elder left Dar'gul alone to contemplate on his newfound situation. He had inherited the strength of the seven great warriors, which should be an honor. However, it came at the cost of seven lives he promised to give a choice. He felt a tear dribble from his eye as he gently rubbed his belly, feeling the kicks of the orcling avatars.

“Good morning, my orclings…” he uttered weakly before letting sleep take him. But not before hearing seven distinct voices call back to him.

“Good morning, father…”

Description
Dar'gul groaned and grunted as he waddled down the corridor to greet the chieftain of his tribe. It had been 50 weeks since the chieftain made Dar'gul one of his personal servants and now the long awaited day had come. Internally, Dar'gul was sighing in relief. He had been stuck in what he called a labor limbo for several weeks now and he was ready to pop all seven orclings out into the world. However, he couldn't relax just yet. Since he was chosen personally, the chieftain had to make a point to have a ceremony to "crown the birth of a new breed of warrior", as he put it. Dar'gul slowly approached the end of the corridor that would lead to the exhibition hall, and where he would speak personally to the head of his tribe. He stopped a few feet away to greet his chieftain and look him in the eyes. He needed to be strong, show no weakness in his heart. He may not have chosen this act of service, but he was commited now.

Yes, he had to be strong... for his seven orclings. For his children.

"Are you ready, Dar'gul?" the chieftain asked, not hint of a smile on his face. Dar'gul knew that face anywhere; stone cold and unflinching. It was the face he swore to serve at all costs.

"Y-yes," Dar'gul replied, mustering just enough strength for a response.

"This is an upmost important ceremony, one that will require a great deal of you," the chieftain explained. He paused for a moment and laid a hand on Dar'gul's shoulder. "Do you know why I chose you?" Dar'gul answered with a shake to his head. He never quite understood why the chieftain chose a simple warrior to serve him in this manner. But now the chieftain was about to give his answer. "It is because you are one of the strongest warriors of our clan. Other orc clans sing of your exploits, comparing you to the warriors of old. I need someone like you on my side." The chieftain then got in rather uncomfortably close, to the point where Dar'gul could smell his breath. "But I must ask... is this what you truly want?"

Dar'gul was at a loss for words. Answering yes would be easy right now, but that wasn't true. He never wanted this. He was forced into this situation when all he wanted was to be a simple warrior that would protect his tribe. But it was his solemn duty to serve his chieftain, no matter what. So he accepted it, even though it meant untold pain. Swallowing down his own doubts, Dar'gul finally gave his answer.

"It... wasn't my choice to bear your children," he started, not daring to look his chieftain in the face. "I was only chosen because you asked me. And I accepted because you are my chieftain. However," Regaining a small bit of confidence, Dar'gul returned his gaze to his chieftain. "I believe that whatever destiny you have for me will not only benefit me, but the tribe as a whole. And for all our people. So yes, if it means serving and protecting our clan... I desire this task." After a brief moment, the chieftain let out a small smirk and then moved to Dar'gul's ear.

"I knew I made the right choice," he started, moving away and patting Dar'gul's shoulder. "You'll serve us well..."

The two exited the corridor and were greeted with the cheers of their orcish brothers and sisters. Dar'gul could recognize his tribe dead center, but what surprised him was the presence of orcs from other tribes. Before he could ask, the chieftain brushed by him and whispered in his ear.

"Their fate will be in your hands now..."

As the chieftain moved up on the exhibition platform, Dar'gul felt an incredibly strong contraction seize him. It was so strong that he was forced to his knees, clutching his belly as he felt something inside start moving downward. It took everything in his power not to scream. This was it! It was time!

"My brothers and sisters, my fathers and mothers," the chieftain started, he voice traveling to every orc in the vicinity. "Today is a fine day indeed, for we are to be blessed by the birth of a new warrior!" All the orcs cheered, but Dar'gul was too distracted by the pain of labor to pay much attention. However, he needed to hear his chieftain's words in the event that there were specific instructions. "Long have we waited for the rebirth of the seven great warriors that once saved our race eons ago, and now that day has finally come!"

'Wait? Seven great warriors? Rebirth?' Questions were running through Dar'gul's mind. 'What the devil is he talking about?'

"I have chosen a proud warrior that has served me well... one with the strength of the seven warriors! And it is through that strength that our greatest legend will be reborn!" As the words left the chieftain's mouth, Dar'gul's heart dropped faster than a stone. He didn't want to believe it. He couldn't believe it. But it was actually happening. Talk of the seven great warriors? An orc warrior impregnated with seven children? Even an idiot could figure it out from there. "Now, as the stars align to grant me the powers of the gods, let us bare witness to the rebirth of the Seven Legendary Warriors!"

Now the cheers of the many clans were deafening. Dar'gul could hardly think over the noise. Even worse, the orclings inside him were becoming more and more restless and were ready to be freed. Then a stray thought returned to Dar'gul's mind, something that he promised many moons ago...

"At least you orclings will have a choice..."

Dar'gul could feel his heart breaking into shards as he found himself powerless to the situation before him. The children that he had sworn to give a choice were now instruments like himself. Like their father, they had no choice. They had their destiny decided for them. And Dar'gul couldn't do anything to stop it. The heavily pregnant orc felt the words on his mouth. He wanted to say them, but he couldn't. He would be executed on the spot for defying his chieftain. His reputation and his clan's reputation would be dragged through the mud. But he wanted to say it anyway. Because at that moment, he found the one thing he personally wanted to protect. Something more precious than service to his leader. A family.

It was a simple, four letter word.

Stop.

But it was too late.

In an instant, a glow of light entrapped Dar'gul's body as the chieftain summoned the very power of the gods to begin the ceremony. An indescribable pain shot through Dar'gul's body, centering itself in his womb where the orclings were stirring. So much was going on that Dar'gul felt as if he was going insane. The cheers, the orcling's struggle, the light, the magic seeping into him. It was all too much. And then, finally, like a glass breaking onto the floor, he felt something pierce through the souls of the seven orclings. So much so that even Dar'gul felt it. That sharp pain was the final shot to Dar'gul's resolve. And with it, several months of pain, anguish, and now feelings of betrayal finally reached the surface. As the ceremony continued, Dar'gul raised his head towards the heavens with tears in his eyes...

...and screamed.

The rest of the ceremony was a blank as Dar'gul slowly woke up to an unfamiliar ceiling. He attempted to get up, only to be forced back down by an incredible surge of pain. He gasped for air and looked up to see his round belly still rising high in the air. More questions popped up in his head...

'What happened? Did the ceremony fail? Why am I still so big? Did it stop?'

Dar'gul laid a hand upon his belly and then felt a strong kick, which pained him into a writhing grunt. Nope, he was still pregnant. Meaning the orclings were still alive. But the question is why? Before he could even begin to ponder the answer...

"Glad to see you're awake," said a familiar voice. Dar'gul turned to his left to see one of female elder orcs setting a tray of tea by his bed mantle. She greeted him with a warm smile as she poured a cup. "You've undergone a rather painful ordeal. It will take time to get accustomed to your new body."

"Grandmother," Dar'gul asked weakly, just barely able to stay awake due to pure exhaustion. "What... happened to me? Did... the ceremony... fail?"

"Oh yes," she started, sitting down next to his bedside. "I suppose I should be the one to tell you. The revival of the seven great warriors... was a success. But not in the way you might be imagining."

"What?" Dar'gul asked incredulously.

"You see, the ceremony was meant to implant the souls of the seven great warriors into seven unborn orclings. Once done, they would be reborn into our world to serve us again. Though it seems only the first condition was met. As for the second," she paused, taking a sip from her cup. "It seems that the seven warriors have decided not be reborn, but rather... reincarnated." Dar'gul sat there trying to process the information given to him. There was still something that didn't make sense.

"So why am I still pregnant?" he asked. "Their souls are implanted and I went into labor as soon as the ceremony began. Why are they still stirring inside of me?"

"That is where you come in," she explained. "You seem to have more in common with the seven warriors than we thought. So much so that all of their past experience and powers were inherited to you, making you their reincarnation. But because you already house your own soul, the souls have to be housed elsewhere to act as a medium for you to summon their powers."

"But that doesn't explain why I'm still pregnant! If I'm now their reincarnation, then they have no need for my orclings, right?!"

"Were you not paying attention?" she asked flatly, pointing to Dar'gul's engorged belly. "Their souls are now attached to the unborn orclings, which now act as a medium for your powers as their reincarnation." It took a moment, Dar'gul quickly understood what she meant. The seven orclings he was to give birth to were now the hosts of the souls of the Seven Legendary Warriors and because of this, he could use all of the powers of these seven warriors. In other words, he essentially became a power incubator. With that, Dar'gul returned to look at the ceiling. The revelation, as it slowly sunk in, made him sick to his stomach.

"I take it this means that I'm stuck like this?" Dar'gul asked.

"Yes," the elder responded. "The orcling's lifeforce is connected to yours, as is the warrior's souls. If they leave your body, your connection to them will be cut-off. Though what this means is that your body will be stuck in a perpetual state of labor, meaning that you will feel the urge to give birth, but nothing will come of it." The elder soon got up to remove herself from the room, but not before turning to Dar'gul again. “However, you have managed to survive for this long so I doubt this will change anything.” And with that, the elder left Dar'gul alone to contemplate on his newfound situation. He had inherited the strength of the seven great warriors, which should be an honor. However, it came at the cost of seven lives he promised to give a choice. He felt a tear dribble from his eye as he gently rubbed his belly, feeling the kicks of the orcling avatars.

“Good morning, my orclings…” he uttered weakly before letting sleep take him. But not before hearing seven distinct voices call back to him.

“Good morning, father…”