A central part of the Revolutionary Army forces, Koala has been set to the cause since she was a child. First introduced in a flashback to the Fishman Pirates, she grows into a fierce freedom fighter who helps others to escape slavery as she did. Even though she was forced into slavery as a young girl, Koala has grown into a strong freedom fighter who can hold her own against some of the strongest around.
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Who is a Koala?
When first seen, Koala is a short girl with blonde hair, a former slave of the Celestial Dragons taken as a young child. She’s quiet, extremely timid, and eager to serve because of her condition as a slave in Mary Geoise. Thanks to this, she’s constantly cowering and cleaning, expecting that the slightest misstep will cause her captors to murder her where she stands. She’s not wrong, but it takes a major moment of deprogramming by Fisher Tiger to bring her out of that mindset after escaping.
During Dressrosa, Koala makes her reappearance, but now she’s a higher-ranking Revolutionary. It only makes sense for the former slave to turn to becoming a Revolutionary with the mission to free others who suffered like her. She makes it look easy too, mastering Fishman Karate as a human along with Armament and Observation Haki. Koala makes herself the best friend and right hand of Sabo as they train together from childhood, both entering the Revolutionaries at early ages.
Koala the Slave
While it’s unknown when she was taken from her family, Koala has been a slave for quite some time by the time Fisher Tiger arrives. It’s through his daring breakout from Mary Geoise that Koala is freed, and she ends up on Fishman Island along with the others like the Boa sisters. During the daring raid, she was around seven or eight years old, separated from her parents for quite some time.
Time as a slave for Koala is spent cleaning, cooking, and tending to the general needs of the Celestial Dragons. At times, she’s just used as a punching bag when they have their temper tantrums, though it’s often not nearly as bad as the beatings for doing something wrong. Koala is one of the more tragic child characters to be shown in the series’ flashbacks, but she takes that adversity and turns it into strength. As Koala is taken from her shackles, she’s also shown a different side of things that will stay with her forever.
Fishman Pirates
The Fishman Pirates are the most revolutionary force on Koala’s outlook in One Piece. While she’s used to humans treating them as slaves, she’s also been fed terrifying stories about Fishmen from birth thanks to stigmatization by the World Government. The crew led by Fisher Tiger changes that entire worldview though, showing Koala that good doesn’t just come in human form, but as anyone willing to help others when they’re being oppressed. Fisher Tiger’s crew are tasked with delivering Koala home across the Grand Line, and so they take her on as one of their own.
Even Arlong, the most heartless of the Fishman Pirates who outright wants Fishman Supremacy, develops a soft spot for the child. The pirates protect her, helping teach her to read and write as they go while also getting her a clean haircut and new clothes. She’s returned to her family, though unknown to her, she’s about to learn another lesson about how humans can often be more cruel than those they fear. Before her eyes, Fisher Tiger is killed by the World Government who were alerted by her village. It’s a tragic end to a hero, but inspires Koala to become the fighter she is today.
Deprogramming Slavery
It took a long time for Koala to be programmed to cry and flinch at every possible movement. Deprogramming that wasn’t going to be nearly as easy, but thanks to Fisher Tiger, Koala can return to normal somewhat quickly. She apologizes while bleeding on the floor after Arlong hits her, desperately trying to clean up her mess with a smile while begging for her life. It’s probably one of the greatest hints of the Celestial Dragon’s cruelty that we’ve ever seen in the story.
Fisher Tiger’s solution is crude, but it works. To make Koala break out of the mindset of a slave, she has to lose her identity as a slave. With the Claw of the Celestial Dragon burned onto her back, it’s not so easy to do. Fisher Tiger burns over it, instead giving her the same Sun Brand as all the Fishman Pirates. Her life as a former slave no longer haunting her skin, she’s become the young girl she’s meant to be. Although her happiness with the Fishman Pirates is short-lived thanks to her family’s betrayal.
Koala the Revolutionary
It’s unknown when she leaves her family for the Revolutionaries. Though it doesn’t appear to be very long after the Fisher Tiger incident. She was a part of the Revolutionaries before Sabo was rescued off the coast of Goa Kingdom by Dragon. So it was at least by the time she was twelve or so. Either way, she took what she saw with Fisher Tiger’s death. After seeing the World Government cruelly cut down someone who just saved thousands, she applies it to her everyday life. Koala knows the World Government upholds slavery firsthand, and she’s vowed to destroy it.
She makes it incredibly high up in the Revolutionaries as well. Even becoming the right hand to their Chief of Staff, her childhood friend Sabo. Despite her relative helplessness as a child, Koala has also grown to be a proficient fighter. Now constantly training to fight for the freedom of others. She’s no pushover either, as Armament and Observation Haki are some of her specialties. Koala is often sent in as the backup for Sabo thanks to her strength. Also usually, they’re accompanied by their Fishman friend Hack.
Fishman Karate Expert
Koala goes to the extremes to learn the fighting style of those she was helped by long ago. No doubt after being on the Fishman Pirates ship with Jimbei and Karoobi she was shown the power of Fishman Karate firsthand. Both were masters of it, so when Koala arrived at the Revolutionaries, she took up learning it from another master. Hack, another Fishman Karate expert and former slave who aligns with the Revolutionaries, teaches her.
Later, Koala will teach the same techniques to Nico Robin. Or, she’ll try to at least. Koala isn’t a fantastic teacher, though she does excel as a student. Despite that though, she teaches Robin enough to come in handy during her New World adventures. Koala herself is a much more proficient fighter though. She fends off dozens of enemies in Dressrosa despite their overwhelming numbers as she saves civilians.
Sabo’s Right Hand
Though she’s a part of the Revolutionaries before him, Sabo becomes one of Koala’s best friends. She knows that he has a latent drive and potential for power than she does. Still she continually pushes herself to be even more to support him. Koala is determined to back up Sabo so he can achieve his dreams. All along with fulfilling her dream of bringing about a free world that Fisher Tiger could live in. Koala trusts Sabo to help her bring that dream about. Besides, she knows that it’s part of the same one that he shares.
To that end, she’s also the one who will immediately defend Sabo if he’s accused of something. Like when Nefertari Cobra is murdered with Sabo taking the fall thanks to World Government strings being pulled. Even though most of the evidence is stacked against him from the World Government, Koala stands by his side. She even pleads with the others to hear him out. Koala knows that her friend would never kill. Knowing that his heart is truly devoted to the cause of freedom, not tyranny like these killings.
Dressrosa Incident
When Koala first comes back after the time skip, she’s helping Sabo to investigate the black market port of Dressrosa. Although they quickly manage to find the port, Sabo of course gets himself separated from both Koala and Hack. Thanks to the tournament in Dressrosa, he’s concerned more with getting the Devil Fruit of his dead brother Ace. That’s okay though, because Koala and Hack will take care of the black market issues while he’s otherwise occupied.
When Sabo eventually gets the Flame-Flame Fruit, Koala is more annoyed that she’ll have to rescue him from drowning now. She backs him up in his fight with Burgess, making sure to grab him after and get him to safety. It’s not much for her to show off power or speed. Though she does get a few frames of being able to stand up against the forces of the Donquixote Family. Everyone pulls their weight during the Dressrosan Revolution.
Where is Koala Now?
Last seen, Koala was back in the Kamabakka Kingdom with the other Revolutionaries when Sabo got back from Lulusia. His daring raid on the Reverie was enough to free hundreds of slavea. Plus he was witness to the eradication of Lulusia Kingdom. When he finally returns to Kamabakka, it’s Koala who meets him with open arms. She was obviously incredibly worried. Koala was one of the first to batter him with questions as soon as he arrived home.
Until the final battle, Koala is still staying put with the Revolutionaries in the Kamabakka Kingdom. She won’t move without orders from Sabo at the minimum and Dragon or Iva at most, but knows that the time to fight is getting closer. With new recruits and revolutions coming from all over the Four Blues and Grand Line, she’ll have plenty to keep up with. The new Revolutionaries of One Piece will need some training, and there’s none better than the young Koala to do it.
