Nearing the end of the Clone wars, Yoda began to hear the voice of Qui gon Jinn in his mind.
Informing the Council, they came to believe he was perhaps being manipulated by the Dark
Side, or that his exertions during the war coupled with his advanced age may be compromising
his mental faculties. But Yoda conferred with Anakin Skywalker, who had a similar experience
in the past, and realized the voice may be real. He went into deep meditation and the
voice returned, instructing him to go to Dagobah, and tell no one of his journey.
Under guard and supervision, Yoda recruited Anakin to help him escape, and flew to Dagobah
with R2D2. Qui Gon appeared to him as fireflies, explaining
that he had learned how to transfer his consciousness at the point of death, so he might live on
eternally within the force. He then offered to train Yoda in the same way. Qui Gon led
him to a cave where yoda had a vision of a Sith Lord slaughtering the Jedi. But in Yoda
there was hope for the future. And so Qui Gonn gave him the location of the Midicholorians
home world, instructing him to head there for the next part of his training.
Upon arrival he met a force priestess who tested him, determining he was a worthy student
and so sent him to the Sith Homeworld of Moraband, where he was confronted by various illusions,
including one of Darth Bane, and various visions meant to challenge his will and faith in Jedi
values. Palpatine and Dooku also became aware of his presence on the planet, and so used
Count Dooku’s force bond with his former master, to send an illusion where Yoda would
have to let Anakin Skywalker die, so he might kill Sidious. But Yoda refused to give into
temptation, saving Anakin, and allowing himself to die.
Having passed all his tests, and defeated the vision of Darth Sidious, Yoda was visited
against by the Force Priestess and told Qui Gon Jinn would continue the rest of his training.
By the time Yoda returned to Coruscant, he had reflected on all he saw and learned. Coming
to the conclusion that engaging in the clone wars had been a terrible mistake, and that
he, as Grand Master of the Order, had ultimately failed, training Jedi for 800 years, in the
ways of his old Masters, without thought for changing with the times so they might have
better prepared for the return of the Sith. But at least he knew a final hope remained,
and while the exact nature of that hope was unknown to him, he knew he still had an important
role to play. With the death of Dooku and General Grevious,
the Clone Wars came to an end. And after the failure of the Jedi to arrest Palpatine, with
Anakin’s turn to the dark side, and his betrayal of Mace Windu, Chancellor Palpatine
issued Order 66, triggering the inhibitor chips in his clone soldiers, so they would
turn on their Jedi Generals. At the time, Yoda was leading an army of clone
troopers on Kashyyyk, aiding the wookies in defending against a separatist invasion. Using
his force powers Yoda survived the initial purge, escaping the planet with the help of
wookie allies Tarfful and Chewbacca.
Yoda the met with Obi Wan Kenobi, another survivor of Order 66 and they agreed they
must confront the Sith Lords. Obi Wan would go to Mustafar to battle his former apprentice
Anakin Skywalker, now Darth vader, while Yoda went to Coruscant to battle Darth Sidious.
Though Obi Wan defeated Anakin, he left him alive, though badly injured, burning in the
fires of Mustafar. Yoda meanwhile, was unable to defeat the Sith Lord, fighting Sidious
to a draw, barely managed to escape alive with the help of Senator Bail Organa.
Yoda, Obi Wan and Bail Organa gathered on an asteroid to discuss the situation. They
decided to split up the newly born children of Anakin and Padme, with Bail Organa taking
the girl to ALderaan, where he would plan in secret, forming a resistance against the
Empire. Obi wan took the boy to live with relative on Tatooine, vowing to stay nearby
and watch over the boy as he grew up.
Yoda went into exile, knowing from his experiences training under Qui Gon Jinn, that it would
be on Dagobah that his final purpose would be fulfilled.
Though no longer actively involved in galactic events, Yoda would continue to watch over
the Jedi survivors of Order 66, communicating with them through the many Jedi Temples of
the Galaxy, giving them advice and encouragement. 4 years before the battle of Yavin, Yoda first
contacted Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger when they entered the Jedi Temple of Lothal, and
gave them guidance, helping Ezra find his kyber crystal, so he might craft his lightsaber.
Than at last, as the Deathstar was being assembled by the Galactic Empire, and the Rebel Alliance
struggled to make any significant gains, Luke Skywalker would emerge, under the guidance
of Obi Wan Kenobi, using the force to join a mission for the Rebels, and destroy the
mighty death star, killing Grand Moff Tarking and greatly damaging the Empire.
With the death of Obi Wan, Luke was left without a Master, and so was guided to the planet
of Dagobah, where Yoda gave the boy his final training to become a Jedi Knight. Luke trained
diligently, learning to confront his emotions and overcome his fears. Eventually though,
he left to rescue his friends from the Empire. But with his training incomplete, Luke was
defeated by Darth Vader, losing a Hand in the confrontation. After many more months
of training alone on Tatooine, he finally was able to rescue Han Solo from Jabba the
Hutt’s palace, then returning to Dagobah to complete his training.
Unfortunately Yoda was now dying and only able to give Luke some final words of advice,
telling him he must confront Vader again, and revealing the identity of Luke’s sister,
Leia Organa. Yoda also confirmed that Vader was in fact Luke and Leia’s father, before
declaring Luke the last of the Jedi and letting his body die, so his spirit might join Obi
wan and Qui Gon Jinn in the Force. With Yoda’s training, Luke returned to the
Alliance, and aided in organizing a final attack against the Empire, targeting the second
Death Star being built in orbit of the planet Endor. Luke defeated Vader and convinced his
father to betray the Emperor, killing Sidious and bringing about and end to the Sith Order.
Anakin Skywalker, having redeemed himself, went on to joine Yoda and the Other as spirits
in the Force. Yoda’s influence would be felt throughout
the galaxy for many years, even into the Era of the First Order. During Rey’s Force vision
on Takodana, Yoda’s voice can be heard, perhaps indicating he may yet have a role
to play in the events to come.