Doing the story now... Most if not all of the music in Episode II is new, and it has its own section on the Story menu, separate from Episode I.
Chapter 1: Wutai's Secret
Main Section 1: The Forbidden Land
EP.1 The New Leader
It starts with a sort of CGI teaser, which the clips from the trailers up until now were taken from. Begins with a Robed Man carrying a camcorder walking through some ruins, presumably in Wutai. He drops the camcorder and we see through its viewfinder distorted footage, which glitches similar to the VR History of the Ancients sequence from
Remake:
We see a man with a camcorder following Sephiroth and Angeal through the ruins intercut with glimpses of Sephiroth wielding his sword surrounded by flames. Very quickly we're introduced to another new character, a female SOLDIER: 2nd Class named Alissa who is also on the squad. The trio moves through the ruins while the man films. We get snippets of conversations -- Alissa describes the land in Wutai as having a strange power; Angeal is searching for lost SOLDIERs who were his friends and mentors, vowing to return them to Midgar; Sephiroth believes he and Angeal will never see eye to eye due to their different upbringing; Alissa thinks that the world will change the moment Sephiroth takes hold of "that" sword; as Sephiroth witnesses a glowing purple vision of a young Hojo and adopts
Cloud's iconic pose, Angeal warns him to cut through whatever is in his way, no matter what it appears to be.
Sephiroth awakens on a chopper flying over Wutai. The year is still [ μ ] – εγλ 1992. Angeal is sitting next to him, and introduces himself. Annoyed, Sephiroth scoffs and returns to sleep to Angeal's bewilderment. We pull out to see them being filmed by the same camerama, named Bachman. Bachman narrates, describing this as the most important work of his life, a recording of the moment that changed the course of history forever.
Sephiroth thinks Angeal looks over sixteen, but he counters that he'll still look young twenty years from now. Angeal describes his birthplace, Banora, and the Banora White, or dumbapple. Sephiroth remains silent and standoffish. Angeal says that he was chosen to be squad leader over Sephiroth because despite being unparalleled, Sephiroth isn't a leader, asking him if that's what he does--make a sour face and hope everyone else gives him a wide berth. Angeal hints that that won't work on him, and wonders if Sephiroth has even ever been reprimanded.
Sephiroth thinks back to the time with Team Glenn, when Glenn threatened to kick his ass for whistling to round up their squad, but remains silent. Angeal considers this a challenge he will overcome.
EP. 2 Two SOLDIERs
Bachman says it was September 1992. Sephiroth and Angeal arrive at the ruins of Robio, on the southern tip of Wutai, on a search and rescue mission to recover four missing comrades.
He introduces himself as Russ Bachman of Shinra's Records and Archives Division, at the time his title was chief. He begins to film them, and Sephiroth asks him to stop, but he refuses, saying he's been assigned to film the Igara Forbidden Zone and Robio, and the two of them in action--especially Sephiroth. Angeal asks if it's for a promotional video, and he say's that's for PR to decide.
When Bachman asks Sephiroth to give some words, Sephiroth remains silent. Angeal steps in and declares that the missing SOLDIERs were his partners and mentors and he vows to bring them back. He makes it clear to Bachman that this is their top priority, and Bachman says he understands and they're all pros. Angeal explains the mission to Sephiroth: searching for four missing SOLDIERs with no distress signals to follow. They set off.
Soon they encounter a monster called a domahdora, but Sephiroth refuses to fight, leaving it to Angeal.
Shockingly, the mission awards a gacha weapon for the first clear bonuses: a copy of Sephiroth's recent Tempest katana.
Afterwards, Angeal questions why Sephiroth didn't fight, but Sephiroth says he had it handled. Bachman complains that PR wants footage of the legendary Sephiroth and he's giving him nothing to work with. We learn that Sephiroth never attends mission briefings, hence why he doesn't know he was going to be filmed. Angeal remains persistent.
EP. 3 Footage of a Hero
The trio reaches the Igara Forbidden Zone. Bachman explains that the Wutaians don't set foot within its borders. That's why Shinra thinks they're hiding something big, and sent a squad to investigate. Some of the finest in SOLDIER, and they all went missing without a trace.
They come upon the long-abandoned ruins of a village. The land itself is scarred by a monstrous power. Sephiroth wants to stick to the mission parameters, but Angeal tells him every new experience is an opportunity for learning, and that he should stop treating everything as a job. Sephiroth disagrees, and the two get annoyed and turn their backs on each other. Bachman laughs, saying he wishes he could see PR's reaction to the footage.
EP. 4 The First of the Missing
They find the first missing SOLDIER surrounded by a swarm of domahdoras, which they fight off. His name is Marco Morse and he's been dead for about three days. When asked if Angeal knew him, he reiterates that he considers every SOLDIER a friend and ally. They leave after he vows to return to recover his body.
EP. 5 The Threat
Further in the ruins, Angeal remarks that the ground is as fine as ash but glitters like glass. Soon they find the body of another SOLDIER, Radam Phon, a P-model SOLDIER not much older than they are. Bachman asks if Sephiroth knew Lucia, who was in charge of training P-models, and says that she and her friends Glenn and Matt assaulted an engineer on their last mission and then deserted. Sephiroth thinks back to how they bonded, but only says that they never talked about personal things and were just another squad he was assigned to. Bachman calls them traitors and says it's good Sephiroth didn't get caught up with them. Sephiroth lingers for a moment by himself after the other two go on ahead.
They reach a clearing and Sephiroth stops to warn Angeal that he's considered a special case within SOLDIER, as the only one allowed to speak freely with Hojo, who is in charge of expanding their limits. He says this means they'll never be friends. Angeal brushes it off, and tells Bachman that being around the professor so much did wonders for Sephiroth's personality. Bachman agrees, off record.
Further in they predictably find the third body, Ed Schuder. Angeal orders Sephiroth to take out some swarming monsters while he takes care of the body. Afterwards, Bachman calls the chopper and Sephiroth examines the body, remarking that the wounds were made by a blade. Angeal says they look the same as the ones on Marco and Radam. Bachman wonders if it was a ninja. Angeal asks Sephiroth to speak up if he notices anything else out of the ordinary, and Sephiroth warns that an enemy is about to attack -- a giant toad. They fell the beast, but Sephiroth remains obstinate and suggests they move on to find the last missing SOLDIER.
Subsection 1: A Bad Feeling
EP. 1 A SOLDIER's Creed
While fighting through swarms of monsters, Angeal explains the importance of teamwork in SOLDIER, but Sephiroth prefers to operate solo. Angeal says that a lone SOLDIER is as strong as a whole squad, but when working together they get the job done faster, with fewer casualties. He asks Sephiroth for some camaraderie, but Sephiroth says he's just an artificial machine of massacre propped up as a false hero by Shinra. Angeal says he accepts him anyway, and that's why SOLDIERs have to foster their own humanity by building bonds. Sephiroth says that's a hindrance and warns him to stay out of his way.
EP. 2 The Shinobi
Bachman asks Angeal if he's ever fought a ninja, but he's only done so in VR. Sephiroth thinks back on his own VR training under Hojo, remembering a mission where Hojo paired him with a simulation of Angeal. Sephiroth claims he never fought a ninja, and Angeal recalls that they were fast. He remembers that the simulator would sometimes pair them with the strongest performer, so he often fought alongside a simulation of Sephiroth, but it didn't prepare him for the real deal. He suggests that Sephiroth was probably paired with him more than once, though Sephiroth claims none of his partners made an impression on him.
EP. 3 An Unknown Presence
Bachman remarks that despite the dangerous wildlife he feels safe with the two of them, though Angeal says he feels like they've stepped into a battlefield and should remain cautious. Angeal calls it SOLDIER's intuition, but Sephiroth wonders if he's just scared. They fight some monsters, and afterwards Sephiroth says it feels like they're being watched, but dismisses it along with the notion of intuition being a special power. After they move on, a group of purple wisps flit about the area.
Main Section 2: A Tragic Portent
EP. 1 A Blademaster
They find the fourth missing SOLDIER still alive, a female 2nd Class. She's glad backup arrived, but warns them--to late. With a laugh, a tall, one-eyed elderly man appears, dressed in dark gray samurai garb and with wild white hair in a top knot and beard. He wields a ridiculously long katana, bringing it down on them. They repel him. Sephiroth admires his sword, and the old man says he's a young man of refined tastes. Sephiroth declares the sword a masterwork, but claims its wielder is unworthy of it. The man laughs and again attacks. Boss fight...
Afterwards they fight a bit more, and Sephiroth and Angeal move for a finishing blow, but the old man parries, slicing Sephiroth's Nameless katana in half, then leaps back, landing atop a ruined building. He introduces himself: Masamune, the master swordsmith of Robio.
He states that he poured his heart and soul into the sword, which shall bear his name forevermore, but that none have come to claim it. He says he can't keep waiting and must find a worthy warrior to entrust it to, then leaps away.
Afterwards the SOLDIER removes her helmet and introduces herself: Alissa Goldie, SOLDIER: 2nd Class.
Sephiroth is taken aback, remembering the photograph he once carried of "Jenova."
Alissa asks what he's looking at, wondering if she looks like his sweetheart--or maybe his mother? Sephiroth remains silent.
Chapter 1: End.
The Story Beyond: Awaiting the Chopper
EP. 1 Bachman's Journal: The Hero
Angeal orders Bachman and Alissa to head to the rendezvous point while he gathers the bodies of their fallen comrades. Bachman's journal describes the mission as such: They were in and out of Robio in less than a day and found all four missing SOLDIERs, but there was only one survivor and he didn't have any good opportunities to film Sephiroth in action. Sephiroth's combat prowess is unequaled; without him, Shinra would be a shadow of itself. He'd heard Sephiroth described as a perfect specimen, but was still unprepared for what he was capable of -- truly beyond human. At least when he held a sword; when it was sheathed the cracks were obvious: a trouble young man who couldn't cooperate or even get along with others and zero interest in the mission. Not PR material, but it's his job to make him shine.
EP. 2 A Caring Mother
Sephiroth has a hallucination that he's spending time with his mother Jenova after a mission.
She brings him his favorite food, pumpkin soup. He says he's been dreaming of eating it again. She says she makes it for him every day. "If only that were true..." he replies, "I'd be so happy." She says she's always with him, and he apologizes, saying of course she is. She gives him a good luck braid and tells him to tie it to his sword so she'll always be with him. She calls him her sweet little boy and hugs him.
"So much like a dream."
EP. 3 A Grand Birthday Party
Angeal remembers a birthday feast he and his dad made for his mom.
Angeal remarks that he's happy to do it since she taught him how to cook, and he wants to try making more dishes so he'll cook for the next few days. Angeal has been donating time and money to get the village agricultural machinery so they can sell their apples, and plans to join SOLDIER starting in the spring. Gillian asks if that's really what he wants to do, but he just wants to do what he can help.
His parents say that if it's what he's decided, they'll support him with everything they can. He vows to become a SOLDIER and give his family the lives they deserve.