Rosalina

"Do you hear the baby stars? These newborns will grow up to become galaxies someday. When stars die, they turn to stardust and scatter across the cosmos. Eventually, that stardust reforms to create a new star...And so the cycle of life continues. But the cycle never repeats itself in quite the same way..."

- Rosalina

Rosalina (known as Rosetta in Japan, Estela in Spain, and Harmonie in France) is a character who appears in Super Mario Galaxy. She first appears in the Gateway Galaxy. She looks oddly similar to Princess Peach.

She's the adopted mother of the Luma. She gives Mario the ability to do a Star Spin and tells him to find Peach. Princess Rosalina also has a castle. Her duty is to watch over and protect the Cosmos as well as the Luma.

She's also an unlockable character in Mario Kart Wii.

Rosalina's Story
Rosalina's backstory is chronicled in a storybook told by her in the Comet Observatory's Library. 9 chapters are unlocked throughout the game, the last of which unlocked by winning the last Bowser battle and ending the game.

The story begins with Rosalina finding a rusty spaceship (resembling the Starshroom) with a Star Child inside. The Luma introduced itself, revealing it was waiting for its Mama. Rosalina bonded with the Luma and promised that she would wait with it. Armed with her father's telescope, Rosalina stargazed for years, searching for the comet that carried the Luma's mother. Fearing it was taking too long, Rosalina and Luma fixed and boarded the spaceship and set off into space.

Traversing through asteroids, Rosalina grew very hungry. She had brought essentials for the trip: the telescope, food, her stuffed bunny (resembling a Space Rabbit) and tea, but forgot water. At the sight of a pouting Rosalina, the Luma then told her that Star Bits would be all she needed, and began to share them. Leaning out the spaceship the two collected Star Bits to eat.

One night a shimmering Comet made of ice flew past the ship. Hoping Luma's mama would be there, the two set foot onto it. Mama was nowhere to be found, but star bits clustered to the south.

One night in a dream, Rosalina remembered her Mother. Rosalina's mother greatly resembled how she herself would come to look. In the dream Rosalina's mother was going away. Rosalina's mother told her not to worry, because she would always be watching her. Clinging to her mother, she cried. Upon awaking Luma noticed tears coming from Rosalina's eyes (and mistaking them for Star Bits). However, Rosalina explained what they were upon waking. She was crying them because she would never see her mother again. At this, they both broke down in tears over their lost mothers.

Continuing the search, Rosalina comforted the Luma, and told it she would take of it, and with that a spark in her heart went off. She became determined to mother the Luma and then started to make the home out of the comet. With tools found inside the comet, Rosalina built what would become Domes housing the Galaxies for Mario. For now, however, it was a shelter for Luma. Once completed it seemed very large for her and just one Luma.

One day a comet flew close, and another Luma came out of it. It was silent once the Lumas met, until one affectionately called out and said Rosalina was it's Mama. "My Mama, My Mama!" the Lumas fought over her love. Rosalina found this so touching she couldn't help but laugh. Out of the comet many more Luma came, and all of them called her Mama and fought over her. She took them all under her wing, and named all of them, moving them all into her newly built house on the comet.

One night Rosalina remembered her home planet, and wondered if everything was all right there. She looked through the telescope until she could make out its surface, even seeing grass and a tree. She saw her favorite spot for stargazing, and it reminded her of her family. She wanted to go home, but she knew she'd never see her mother again. At this time it was revealed her mother had died, and was buried under the tree in view. Rosalina had been aware of this all along, but was unwilling to truly believe it.

The Luma comforted a crying Rosalina, assuring her that she shouldn't be sad and that her mother is a part of her and will always be close by. It was at this time the Luma she met inside the ship had an idea. The Luma transformed the comet into the Comet Observatory to help in finding all their Mamas. The Luma explained that when they grow up, they transform into various things. Rosalina was so overcome with emotion due to this selfless act she thanked all the Luma that had huddled around to hug her. From that day on Rosalina never cried again.

The observatory grew and grew into a better home, and Rosalina and the Luma were proud to call it their home. At a welcoming party for a new Luma, Rosalina and the others baked a cake topped off with Star Bits. Coming together in such a way made her realize they were her new family, and she was determined to raise them and send them off to all their destinies. It's at this time she began to call herself the mother of the Luma.

Rosalina was reminded yet again of her home one night. Even though she had a new goal in her life, she thought it'd be nice to visit her favorite spot from her past. So every 100 years the Comet Observatory passes over the Mushroom Kingdom so that she can re-visit.

Character Description
''In the early stages, we contemplated the idea that Rosalina was related to Princess Peach, so that is why their features are very similar. Her long bangs represent her outward strength and inner sorrow and loneliness.''-Collector's Edition Super Mario Galaxy, (pg. 346)

Rosalina wears a cosmic blue dress, star-shaped earrings, dark lipstick, nail polish on her fingernails, and a gray crown with rubies & sapphires.

Personality
Rosalina is generally wise, kind, thoughtful and mother-like. She has an intimate knowledge of the universe and cares deeply for the Lumas. Rosalina is also a good friend; towards the end of Galaxy she aids Mario to reach Bowser in order to save Peach.

Rosalina's bang though, is a symbol of her outward strength and inner sorrow. This is most likely due to the lost of her mother, as Rosalina is often described as lonely.

Powers and Abilities
Princess Rosalina has an abundance of powers. For example, once sufficient power is restored to the Comet Observatory, she is able to use her powers to surround it in a force field, transforming it into a starship as a form of transportation. Also, if Mario attempts to jump on her, she will be protected by a force field that resembles a bubble. She appears to also have the ability to float in the air.

Portrayal

 * Rosalina is voiced by veteran voice actress Mercedes Rose.

Trivia

 * Her Spanish name, Estela, is the contrail of a comet.
 * Her French name, Harmonie, is the French equivalent of the word harmony.
 * In Mario Kart Wii the most likely reason Rosalina is Heavy Weight is that a Luma races around with her.