So here's that Rosalina discovery I forgot to post about:
Just to give the short of it - Rosalina is pretty much objectively the strongest Nintendo character and one of the strongest characters I know in general (if not the most powerful). Why? Because I discovered that in Super Mario Galaxy, Rosalina controls and is responsible for the real life scientific process of "conservation of mass" (or something similar, like a fictional variation of it), on a universal scale.
I knew Galaxy's ending was connected to SOMETHING real, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
The process/theory of conservation of mass is, in short, the fact that matter (as in, atoms, the particles that make up pretty much everything in the universe), is never created or destroyed. Instead, it is rearranged to form new things, even if the previous objects these atoms formed are destroyed. When objects are destroyed (this includes the death of living things), the atoms simply scatter, and at some point, will form something new. All of us are likely made up of atoms that are millions of years old. This should not be confused with "reincarnation", which is a spiritual belief. Conservation of mass is a scientific process, and has been proven to happen naturally. Humans already have control over the process, but only on a smaller scale (it's used in chemistry, for example, for mixing the atoms of different chemicals to create new materials).
So what has this got to do with Rosalina, and Super Mario Galaxy's ending?
Take the following dialogue from Rosalina to Mario while the universe was being reborn:
"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..."
...Doesn't that sound AWFULLY familiar?
Maybe a "TEENY" bit like conservation of mass?
But hey - it's like her detractors might say - "it was only to do with the Lumas. This had nothing to do with anyone or anything else".
...Right?
Actually, no. While Rosalina does describe it in the context of Lumas in that instance, she later (right before Mario shouts out "Welcome! Welcome, New Galaxy!") goes on to say:
"Yes....All new life carries the essence of stars...even all of you...."
So everything in the universe "carries the essence of stars". And "the essence of stars", is stardust. And from Rosalina's description of what stardust is and how it functions, it's essentially atoms (I reckon they just use the term "stardust" so as to keep a sense of fantastical charm to the whole idea, as opposed to confusing younger audiences by using actual scientific terms).
As for how Rosalina is in control of all of this, well, think - why isn't she any different between the original universe in Galaxy 1, and the new one? Why isn't everything that's specifically associated with her any different (her original home, the Observatory, Mario's gang whom she now values as dear friends, etc)?
The only explanation is that she has control over all of it. Heck, Rosalina and Mario are clearly shown to be perfectly in tact during the process. And of course, Rosalina understands the whole thing really well, and seems to be speaking from experience rather than citing a legend, or a theory (it explains her age being beyond comprehension).
Plus it ties in well with her motherly role for the Lumas - she raises them specifically so they can be reborn as whatever they most want to be (which is basically how any good mother should be). She raises them, allows them to die, and allows them to be reborn as whatever it is they wish.
When Lumas transform, they are also doing their own version of conservation of mass, but you'll notice when Lumas form a new galaxy, they are always very spontaneous and not inhabitable by the average creature. They have no real structure and are just a big mess, usually representing a central idea (e.g. Sweet Sweet Galaxy representing the Lumas' child-like sweet tooth, which has always been apparent, since they eat Star Bits, which are supposed to be very sweet).
Rosalina, however, has very deliberate control. She keeps some things totally the same in her universal redistribution of atoms, and also forms new things from the old atoms.
This is an awesome detail the developers put in, and gives a realistic, yet fantastical explanation as to what exactly Rosalina does.
It's even referenced in Smash Bros, in how when you lose Luma, a new one is born seconds later. And in her trailer for Smash, they set up an animation of her creating a Luma in-game, using her down taunt.
I just thought this was really cool and wanted to share it here, since it is relevant. People like scientific connections for the things characters do, as it helps us relate to and understand their power. And I've finally figured it out in Rosalina's case.
