"Well this is it!" Rosalina exclaimed, packing the few things she owned into a small teal bag adorned with stars and slinging it over her shoulder. 'Living in space sure does lessen essentials' she thought. The whole packing process had only taken around 20 minutes, and she had just finished combing her bedroom for last-minute items, of which there was few. She jumped on her purple bedspread happily, buzzing with excitement. Today was the first official day of Mario Kart! She hadn't been down to their planet in a century, and the fact that it was an invitation from her friends made her even happier. She hadn't had friends in a long time. The Lumas were her dear children of course… but sometimes she craved some real conversation.
As for the actual racing, she had been practicing for months on her own bike, called the Twinkle Star. The Gearmo from the Engine Room had made it especially for her, and she loved it! With its teal streaks and star decorations, it was perfect for her. Riding it was one of her favorite things to do when she had free time. She would park the Observatory at a nearby planet and drive to her heart's content. Hitting top speeds and feeling the wind in her face gave her a thrill she had never felt before. Her magic gave her the ability to hover, but this bike truly made her feel like she was flying and she adored it. She wasn't sure how she would fare against other racers however.
She found the Mario Brothers charming and hoped their friends were just as welcoming, for she had a secret fear of rejection. It seemed so silly to be afraid of someone turning her down, but she really wanted some proper friends… The thought of being the lone sheep in the tournament honestly worried her. She was so out of date, so out of touch with the current fashions and trends. What if she offended someone? What if people laughed at her appearance? She self-consciously ran a few fingers through her hair. Did she look like a freak to them? Mario and Luigi never said anything, but she knew they would be too nice to point out her possibly weird look. Maybe she would never have any friends at all. She gazed sadly at her faded purple wallpaper, but then brightened. 'That's no way to be thinking, Rosalina! You can be the social queen as long as you let yourself!' she said to herself. She could handle this! She had survived travel into space and two near-death experiences! She could handle the pressures of social interaction! She stood up, now determined to brush her awkwardness away. As long as she acted like herself, she'd be fine. 'Just like mother used to say…' she thought fondly. She walked out of her bedroom with graceful determination, only to bump straight into her advisor Polari.
"Ready to go my dear?" he said fondly, pointing towards the launch star they had prepared to send her to the Mushroom Kingdom far below them. She nodded happily and walked towards the star swiftly, stopping just before it to turn around and wave goodbye to her children. Lumas big and small had gathered in the small garden part of the ship to say farewell. "Goodbye Mama!" they all yelled, some crying over their beloved Mama leaving, others cheering her on to win the cup. Polari wiped away a small tear of his own, thinking of the small girl he met so many centuries ago. Rosalina smiled and waved back, her eyes watering. She knew she would miss them all so much, but she couldn't give up this amazing opportunity and watch her one chance of adventure slip between her fingers. She took in a large breath, then walked into the Launch Star and activated it, shooting her to the Mushroom Kingdom at a million miles an hour.