Curly Dadan

However, judging from Luffy and Ace’s regard for her whenever she was mentioned, she may have been a better person than anyone might have thought of her. She has also been known to show brief signs of bravery, as seen when she and her family of bandits came to rescue Ace and Luffy from Bluejam; only to scamper immediately afterwards upon securing the two boys’ safety. Although she says that she hates brats, she appears to really care for Luffy and Ace like they were her own children but seems too embarrassed to admit it. In the anime, this is later proven true when Ace, Sabo, and Luffy decided to leave the bandits cottage and make a hideout of their own. At first she tried to show that she did not care, but once it started raining heavily, she ordered the bandits to go look for them. When they finally did, she went and visited them secretly during the night, only to be hit out of the boy’s hideout from a trap that they had built. Upon learning of Ace’s death, Dadan was extremely distressed, mostly at the thought of how much Luffy would be hurting over the loss of Ace. She was upset enough to even attack and beat up Garp, someone whom she was usually deathly afraid of, further demonstrating her hidden concern towards the boys. Dadan even shed tears at Sabo’s presumed fate, as she previously learned of his survival.

Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp claimed that Dadan is a good friend of his, which was why he trusted his grandchildren in her care. However, this friendship seems to stem from Garp blackmailing Dadan, threatening to throw her and her family in prison if they do not comply with his demands. Though cowed into his demands, Dadan sometimes wonders if prison is better compared to Garp’s heavy orders. Regardless, they do seem to get along fine, as Garp would confide Dadan about Ace’s heritage, and talk about his experience with Roger. When Ace died she began to drink heavily but stopped when hearing that Garp was in town she ran out of the bar and hit Garp with a club and then with her fists. Even though she was assaulting him, Garp did nothing to stop her fury, understanding her reaction was due to grief. It is unknown how the two of them met, but they have known each other for a least 22 years as seen when Garp entrusted a newborn Ace to Dadan. Dadan noticeably was concerned about Garp after the veteran trooper was declared missing in action (MIA) after his attack on Hachinosu.

Monkey D Luffy

Luffy’s first encounter with Dadan occurred with the latter already on the verge of declining Garp’s request to have her and her family of robbers look out for the boy’s well-being as they already have their hands full with Ace alone. As for Luffy, this initial lack of affection was reciprocated due to his dislike of mountain-dwelling bandits, owing to the boy’s past experience with Higuma, and even went as far as sticking his tongue out at her during the first mealtime together. However, over time, they grew to care for each other, as Dadan went out of her way to find and defend Luffy and Ace from Bluejam, while Luffy grew worried about Dadan’s safety. Before departing on his journey to become a pirate, Luffy smiled and said that while he hates mountain bandits, he likes Dadan and the family, causing Dadan to cry happily in response. After Ace’s death, Dadan wished for Luffy not to fall. When Luffy and his crew returned two years after the Summit War of Marineford, Dadan was shown making photo albums of him. After Luffy defeated Doflamingo, she and the rest of the family celebrated Luffy’s accomplishment and bounty increase.

Portgas D Ace

Having been entrusted with the young Ace by Garp, Dadan knew first-hand just how troublesome the future 2nd Whitebeard Division Commander was at his youth, so much that she became terrified at the thought of having another “brat” brought by Garp under her wing. She is apparently aware of Ace’s connection to Roger, but seemed willing to honor her friendship with Garp and kept that shocking piece of information discreet. Though Dadan is shown to be angry when Ace nearly killed people who offended his heritage, Ace did seem to like her as he said that he would miss her. Indeed, when Ace died, Dadan openly beat Garp up for not saving him, while shedding tears.

Sabo

Even though Dadan was annoyed with Sabo during their first meeting, she was content with Sabo staying with Luffy and Ace at her house. Dadan was also deeply shocked as much as Ace and Luffy when hearing about Sabo’s presumed demise from Dogra. After the timeskip, it appears she has learned that he was not truly dead. She was also saddened when she read in the newspaper that Sabo assassinated King Cobra (which was actually a frameup by the Five Elders).

Luffy angers her even more when he tells them he did not eat enough. She says to him he should be glad that he can even eat at their place and that he will start the next day working around the house. She tells Luffy he can have one bowl of rice and one glass of water, telling him that he should fetch his own food if he wants more. Luffy says that’s all right, leaving Dadan comically offended. He then tells Dadan he is strong enough, as strong as a pirate, which he will become.

Dadan is then in shock seeing Ace and Luffy leave. She states that the two grandsons of Garp are way too strong for them to handle. One of the bandits reports to her that Luffy is missing and she tells him that she could not care less. If he died, it would not be her fault. While taking a sip of beer, she also says they already gave up on Ace.

She states she is not able to handle the son of the devil. One week later, Luffy returns injured and with shredded pieces of clothing. She freaks out at seeing him and sends him to bed. The next day Luffy follows Ace, again. She then angrily yells at Luffy for leaving his errands behind.

One day, Ace and Luffy bring Sabo to Dadan’s house much to Dadan’s annoyance and she does show her frustration whenever the trio goes on their little adventures. Dadan reads a newspaper that states the World Nobles are visiting the Goa Kingdom. Later, she is seen coming outside to witness the immense flames coming from Gray Terminal. She and her bandits rush down to save Luffy and Ace, arriving just in the nick of time before Bluejam can murder Ace. She tries to run with Luffy and Ace, but Ace refuses to run from Bluejam.

Dadan decides to stay with Ace and fight Bluejam, commanding that the bandits take Luffy and run back home. Still, even after the flames stopped, Dadan and Ace did not return home until after Sabo’s pirate ship was shot down by Saint Jalmack. Dadan remembered her talk with Garp about Gol D. Roger not giving up on his friends, even if it meant death, and compares this with Ace’s similar, if not identical, attitude. When Dogra reported that Sabo was killed by Jalmack, Ace attempted to kill in revenge, but Dadan had him tied up for his own safety.

She released him when a letter from Sabo arrived (the one that he mailed before setting off). She is then seen reading the note that Luffy and Ace sent to her saying they had formed their owned “countries” and looking confused when she saw them in the forts they had built outside. Seven years later, Ace leaves to become a pirate. Dadan does not see him off and instead remains inside the house, remembering the day Garp first brought Ace to her as a baby. She was sulking, saying how Ace always complained and was ungrateful to her. After being read the note Ace left for her, she starts to cry, trying to dry her eyes with a handkerchief. Three years after Ace’s departure, she reacts to Luffy leaving in much the same way. She was irritated when Luffy said he hated mountain bandits one last time. But when he said that Dadan and the other bandits were alright, she starts to cry the same way she did when Ace left, uncontrollably and with a handkerchief. While crying, she told Luffy to stop talking and to “get out of here already.”

Summit War Saga

Postwar Arc

Following the events of the Summit War of Marineford, Dadan hears about the death of Ace. Upon Garp’s return to Foosha Village to establish defenses against the sudden wave of pirate activity, Dadan exits a nearby bar. Furious, Dadan accuses Garp of doing nothing while Ace died and berates him for putting his duty as the “Hero of the Marines” over the lives of his family. She attacks him with a wooden club, though Garp calls for his Marines to stand down as she is “an acquaintance of his.” Dadan proceeds to assault Garp, throwing him to the ground and punching him in the face, while crying that he should die for what he did. Before she can attack him further, Makino intervenes, claiming that Garp is suffering the most for being unable to save his grandson. Dadan, however, replies that it is Luffy who is in the most pain. After imagining how awful Luffy’s pain must be, Dadan then vows to remain on Luffy’s side and shouts out loud her devotion to him.

Fishman Island Saga

From The Decks Of The World

Two years later, after reading the news about Luffy’s return, Dadan and the other bandits celebrate, with all of them wearing straw hats while Dadan herself is scrapbooking news articles.

Whole Cake Island Saga

From The Decks Of The World The 500000000 Man Arc

When the news of Luffy’s new bounty after his victory over Doflamingo reached Dawn Island, the Dadan Family celebrated along with the people of Foosha Village. Dadan happily held Makino’s baby.

Wano Country Saga

Wano Country Arc

After the Levely, Dadan and her family read some distressing news concerning Sabo, causing them to be upset.

Final Saga

Egghead Arc

When news came about Luffy’s actions at Egghead and Garp’s supposed disappearance at Hachinosu, Dadan read it and became sorrowful.