Mulan II 2004

One month after defeating the Huns, Mushu Mark Moseley enjoys his renewed status as a guardian spirit, a role that keeps him in high spirits—until the Fa family ancestors June Foray express their disapproval, hoping he would be fired for good. The ongoing tension between tradition and change sets the stage for a larger challenge when General Shang BD Wong approaches Mulan Ming-Na Wen with an unexpected proposal: marriage. Mulan, who has proven herself on the battlefield and in the eyes of the Emperor, agrees with a sense of hopeful resolve, yet the news unsettles Mushu. The ancestors remind him that if Mulan ties herself to Shang, Mushu would lose his guardian position, a development that would threaten his ego and his purpose. This personal conflict threads through the larger diplomatic crisis looming over the empire.

The Emperor recognizes a looming Mongol threat and seeks to strengthen China by forging an alliance with the distant kingdom of Qui Gong. To seal this alliance, he devises a plan that would bind Mulan and Shang to Qui Gong’s line through marriages to three of the princesses: Mei Lucy Liu, Ting-Ting Sandra Oh, and Su Lauren Tom. The weight of history and duty bears down on everyone as the Emperor assigns Mulan and Shang to safeguard the princesses on a dangerous journey toward Qui Gong. Despite his misgivings about arranged marriages, Mulan accepts the mission as a crucial step for a united future, and the group sets off with a mix of resolve and trepidation.

Accompanying them are loyal friends who feel as much like family as comrades in arms: Yao Harvey Fierstein, Ling Gedde Watanabe, and Chien-Po Jerry Tondo. The trip becomes a complex road trip filled with humor, danger, and small moments of growing affection among the princesses and their protectors. Mushu, desperate to protect his own standing, schemes to undermine the budding romance between Mulan and Shang, hoping to preserve his status by driving a wedge between the couple. Cri-Kee, the fortunate cricket, does his best to thwart Mushu’s tricks, though not every attempt lands as planned. The journey forces Mulan and Shang to confront their differences in temperament and approach, and their occasional clashes of style threaten to derail the mission at every turn.

As the group travels through Bandit Country, the princesses begin to listen to their hearts. Mei finds herself drawn to Chien-Po and the camaraderie of Ling and Chien-Po, while Ting-Ting and Su discover shared feelings with Ling and Chien-Po in a way that gives them courage to claim their own happiness. The emotional currents ripple through the team, giving Mulan and Shang a glimmer of hope that love and loyalty can coexist with duty. Yet the path remains fraught with peril, and the looming threat from Lord Qin’s forces tests everyone’s resolve. A night’s misadventure—Mushu accidentally leading them off course and a broken carriage forcing everyone to march on foot—becomes a crucible that makes the group stronger, even as the pair’s relationship braces under pressure.

When a bandit assault nearly abducts the princesses, the crisis crystallizes the stakes. The princesses are saved, but Mulan and Shang are left dangling from a shattered bridge, with destiny tipping in favor of separation. In a moment of self-sacrifice and trust, Shang steps forward to save Mulan, and she realizes that their bond is worth fighting for. The couple’s decision to pursue a future together becomes a quiet oath to stay true to themselves and to each other, even as duty insists they part ways. Mulan journeys alone to Qui Gong, presenting herself to Lord Qin and deceiving him about the fate of the princesses to spare them a forced, loveless arrangement. She offers herself as the intended match for Prince Jeeki, sealing a risky pact that buys the group time to regroup and rethink their approach.

Shang’s return to the landscape of danger—joined by Yao, Ling, Chien-Po, and the princesses—culminates in a dramatic confrontation with Lord Qin. To prevent tragedy, Mushu may be forced to reveal himself in a symbolic, dramatic fashion, using a ruse as the Great Golden Dragon of Unity to compel an unlikely alliance between Lord Qin and the Emperor. The plan succeeds in turning the tide, and Mulan and Shang’s love, once tested by circumstance, becomes a powerful force that dissolves the looming threat and frees the princesses from their vows. The moment is a turning point, where personal growth, friendship, and shared responsibility align to secure a future for everyone involved.

In the end, Mulan and Shang marry in her village, a celebration tempered by the cost of their earlier trials. Mushu accepts the loss of his exalted guardian role with a hopeful heart, aware that his presence and guidance helped bring about the change they needed. The Emperor’s realm is stabilized, and the marriage signals a new harmony between duty and desire. Yet the story doesn’t end with a neat bow—Shang’s leadership proves adaptive, as he merges the family temples, allowing Mushu to continue serving as a guardian spirit. A final, playful moment reveals Mushu’s reveal to Shang and Mulan, a small, humorous breach of secrecy that underscores the human element behind the divine duties. With love, loyalty, and a sense of shared responsibility, the couple’s future appears bright, balanced by the support of friends who stood by them through every obstacle.