Clans of the Crystal Heart

The Clans of the Crystal Heart are a series of small, tight-knit groups of people and Pokémon who live hidden from the rest of the world."'There were once Pokémon that became very close to humans. There were once humans and Pokémon that ate together at the same table. It was a time when there existed no difference to distinguish the two.' - Canalave Library"

Function
The Clans exist in order to keep the ancient practice of Burst - fusion with Pokémon - alive. Due to ethical debates, Burst has long been declared illegal, so the Clans exist in secret. People and Pokémon view each other as equals in the Clans, rather than the humans being dominant. From birth, every person in the Clan is paired with a Pokémon of the same gender who has recently hatched, and the pair is raised together their whole lives.

Government
Government in the Clans is set similarly to a pyramid, with a single Alexandrite overseeing few Black Opals, who in turn oversee Obsidians, who then oversee Diamonds and Coals.

Alexandrite
Alexandrite is the current leader of the Clans, and is rarely seen by anyone other than the Black Opals. Sey host private meetings with each Diamond in order to promote them to Obsidian, but other than that, sey are highly reclusive.

Black Opal
Black Opals are chosen from veteran Obsidians, and serve as the parliament and advisors of Alexandrite. They handle most of the decision-making and governing in the Clans.

Obsidian
Obsidians form the rank above Diamond. Most Obsidians work directly under Black Opals, but occasionally are selected to found a new Clan, or take over a Clan that has recently lost its Obsidian. To be promoted to Obsidian requires them to complete a test, known only to Obsidian and above ranks. It ends with a meeting with Alexandrite.

Diamond
Diamonds are the standard fighter rank, and the lowest rank capable of Burst. They all begin as Coals, but after completing a trial under their Clan's Obsidian, they gain permission to use Burst freely. The trial not only tests their wits and strength, but also the pair's capabilities both in and out of Burst, as well as how easy it is for them to change forms.

Coal
All people born into the Clans, or otherwise recruited, begin as Coals. Coals are educated and trained by their Clans until they are someday able to use Burst.

Clans
There are currently three Clans, though there used to be four. Each Clan is comprised of one Obsidian and a mix of several Diamonds and Coals. Each Coal and Diamond is given a name by their Obsidian, following the theme of the Clan. This name also serves as the name of their Burst form.

The list of Clans is as follows:

Iron Clan
Obsidian: Armor

Name Theme: Animals

Steel Clan
Obsidian: Harpy

Name Theme: Battle equipment and weapons

Platinum Clan
Obsidian: Fox

Name Theme: Mythical creatures

History
The following is a record of folklore shared among the Clans, and thus cannot be proven to be completely historically accurate.

The Ancient Kingdom
When Trainers and Rangers began to spread across the earth, a group of four friends stepped back, and looked at their fellow humans with horror, rage, sadness, and scorn. The horrified one was disgusted by humans that used and abused Pokémon. The enraged one was furious with humans that considered Pokémon lesser than themselves. The sad one was depressed, feeling the pain of Pokémon suffering under humanity's rule. The prideful one scorned the other humans, knowing Pokémon were superior in terms of strength. These four people split apart from the rest of humanity, and formed their own kingdom, where Pokémon and humans lived in harmony. For many years there was peace, and the Pokémon and people of the kingdom grew strong together. But sadly, their peace was not to last, as opposing humans of the world sought to ruin the kingdom's harmony.

The First War of the Heart
They began invading and capturing Pokémon of the kingdom, taking them away, forcing them to fight against their home. The humans of the kingdom fought with their very lives to defend the Pokémon.

One of the four kings was not fighting. Instead, they looked down over the war, and scoffed at their pathetic, meaningless battles. As they did, a Pokémon crept up into their tower.

"Why do you not fight?" the Pokémon asked.

"It is pointless," the proud king replied. "Humans scrabble and clash with each other to hide their weakness. And as long as they are weak, the fighting will never cease."

The Pokémon pondered these words in its heart, and made a decision that would change the fate of the kingdom forever.

"Then I will give to you our secret," it whispered to the proud king. "From this day forward, Pokémon will share their strength with humans, and the two will fight as one."

The Pokémon produced a gem from the very depths of its soul, and gave it to the king. In that instant, the king and the Pokémon became one.

A surge of power swept through their shared body, and they dove from the tower, spreading great wings to soar over the battlefield. With one wing, they blew away the enemy, and with the other, they gathered the captured Pokémon close, and freed them from the tyrants.

The war won, the great warrior landed, and again split into two. The proud king returned to their bretheren, and shared with them the great secret they had been told... And after the swell and explosion of power, they called this transformation "Burst".

The Spread and Fall of Burst
After the first Burst, Pokémon and humans grew closer, more and more Pokémon producing these gems from their hearts. The gems were thus called "Burst Hearts", and they were required for Burst, formed from the deep bond between a human and Pokémon. To Burst required rigorous training, as failed or forced Burst could harm or even kill both partners.

It became tradition for a human and a Pokémon to be raised together, to strengthen their bond all their life. They were treated as equals, learning at the same pace, creating a bond as strong as brothers. All of this was done to prepare each pair for Burst, and to achieve Burst was a great honor, a symbol of unity to all.

In a cruel twist of fate, it was the first Burst pair that ruined this harmony. The proud king, spurred on by this new power, used it as further proof that Pokémon were superior to humans. They began experimenting on Pokémon and people, trying to force Burst, and attempting to make it permanent. They sought to eliminate the difference between humans and Pokémon, removing everything that made them unique.

The other three kings, seeing the pain their fellow man was inflicting, proceeded to exile the proud king and their followers. The group fled to a faraway land, and were never seen again.

Though a civil war had been avoided, another war soon began. With the loss of the first king and their partner, the kingdom fell, and Burst faded into obscurity.

The Birth of the Clans
As long as something is remembered, it can never truly die. The same held true for the descendants of the kingdom, who continued to pass on the tales of Burst in secret. Eventually, the tyrants lost memory of Burst, and the war, and their hold on the descendants grew lax. This allowed the descendants to come together, forming organizations far out of the public eye. These groups soon became known as the Clans, keeping the spirit of Burst alive even to the modern day.

Though it will likely be many years before Burst is accepted, though many would seek to suppress and destroy the Clans, we will hold strong. We are the last flames of a forgotten land, and though the rain pours down, we will ever burn brightly.

Black Opals

 * Javelin

Obsidians

 * Armor
 * Fox
 * Harpy

Iron Clan

 * Crow
 * Serpent
 * Weasel

Steel Clan

 * Chariot

Platinum Clan

 * Jaculus

Iron Clan

 * (None currently known.)

Steel Clan

 * Caestus

Platinum Clan

 * Cyclops
 * Gremlin

Trivia

 * The Clans were named after Burst Hearts, the crystals that allow Burst.