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Description
Back in March there was a art trend for drawing redesigned versions of Gym Leaders from the Pokemon series. I took that as an opportunity to flesh out an idea I had during my playthrough of Pokemon Shield.

Sword/Shield Spoilers Incoming:

Bede is introduced as one of the rival trainers early on in Sword/Shield, and after multiple displays of his bad attitude and trouble making he is kicked out of the Galar Gym Challenge. Desperate to get back into it, he takes on an apprenticeship with Opal, the elderly Fairy-type Gym Leader. When he makes a return near the end of the game, he has taken up the Fairy Gym uniform and is officially Opal's protégé and successor. While he still has his competitive edge and a bit of a sharp tongue, he overall demeanor is much more graceful, refined, and feminine. Even in defeat he is gracious, and just overall Bede seems to be much more happy with his new way of self-expression. I actually wondered as I played if they were setting up Bede to eventually come out as transgender or non-binary. Pokemon Sword/Shield doesn't go that far with it, but if the games ever got a direct sequel, I'm really hopeful that Game Freak is willing to go in this direction because I think it's a great fit for his character, and it's a way to introduce a canonical LGBTQ Pokemon character that is earned.

Hence my "redesign" for Bede, which is really more like hope for a version of Bede to appear in a future Pokemon release. I did my best to find a kind of middle ground between a slim transwoman frame and the proportions that you see in the Pokemon games and anime. For her outfit I took elements from not just Bede's various outfits, but some of Opals as well. There is reference material of Opal as a young woman, and I took elements from that design as well, as a means to show her positive impact on Bede's life.

Like I mentioned at the start, this trend happened back in March and that's when I drew this. I decided to post it here as an entry into DA's Pride Month event, and because I thought my followers here would appreciate it too.

Description
Back in March there was a art trend for drawing redesigned versions of Gym Leaders from the Pokemon series. I took that as an opportunity to flesh out an idea I had during my playthrough of Pokemon Shield.

Sword/Shield Spoilers Incoming:

Bede is introduced as one of the rival trainers early on in Sword/Shield, and after multiple displays of his bad attitude and trouble making he is kicked out of the Galar Gym Challenge. Desperate to get back into it, he takes on an apprenticeship with Opal, the elderly Fairy-type Gym Leader. When he makes a return near the end of the game, he has taken up the Fairy Gym uniform and is officially Opal's protégé and successor. While he still has his competitive edge and a bit of a sharp tongue, he overall demeanor is much more graceful, refined, and feminine. Even in defeat he is gracious, and just overall Bede seems to be much more happy with his new way of self-expression. I actually wondered as I played if they were setting up Bede to eventually come out as transgender or non-binary. Pokemon Sword/Shield doesn't go that far with it, but if the games ever got a direct sequel, I'm really hopeful that Game Freak is willing to go in this direction because I think it's a great fit for his character, and it's a way to introduce a canonical LGBTQ Pokemon character that is earned.

Hence my "redesign" for Bede, which is really more like hope for a version of Bede to appear in a future Pokemon release. I did my best to find a kind of middle ground between a slim transwoman frame and the proportions that you see in the Pokemon games and anime. For her outfit I took elements from not just Bede's various outfits, but some of Opals as well. There is reference material of Opal as a young woman, and I took elements from that design as well, as a means to show her positive impact on Bede's life.

Like I mentioned at the start, this trend happened back in March and that's when I drew this. I decided to post it here as an entry into DA's Pride Month event, and because I thought my followers here would appreciate it too.