"Who am I in the eyes of most people?"

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The armour is an "upgraded" version of her season 2 counterpart

I think one or two people have pointed out that the design looks similar to her season 2 armour, and that's because it literally is!

Symbolically, the armour represents Cass becoming more on guard and closed off after the events of “Rapunzel and The Great Tree”. It's basically the catalyst that hurtles her to her inevitable betrayal in the finale (in my version the betrayal happens differently).

In my redesign, instead of the armour being replaced, the season 2 armour decays and crumbles as a result of the moonstone trying to break free and using its power against Cass. When it fails and fuses into her body, it results in an “upgraded” version where the armour has become unbreakable, yet also appears to be falling apart. It's kind of like a visual oxymoron and a representation of Cassandra's mental state. She would even describe the feeling of the armour “like pins and needles” like it's stuck between existing and nothingness. 

Mooncandra’s hair, cloak and symbol glow when she uses her powers

When in use (or when powered up), Cass’s hair as well as the symbol on her chest and the inside of her cape will glow with the familiar blue hue of the black rocks. In canon, the armour is completely made of the rocks, however with my redesign the armour has been affected by the decay incantation and influenced by the moonstone which crumbles the armour and becomes infused with magic.

Originally, the whole cloak was going to glow but I felt it was overkill and decided to just have the inside glow. I’m glad I did because it does wonders when rendering lighting.

The Moonstone fused into Cassandra's body, rather than on her armour

When Cass took the moonstone, it was a last minute decision made out of desperation (again the betrayal happens differently in my AU) and as she tries to hold the moonstone the decay incarnation is activated and begins to affect Cassandra's armour. However, she doesn't give up and the moonstone fuses into Cassandra's body and leaves a mark on the chestplate directly over Cass’s heart. It's simialr to the whole "power from the heart" thing from "The Owl House" in which the magic attaches itself literally to her heart.

In canon, I think the crest from The Great Tree refers specifically to the decay incantation. This symbol is the one engraved on Cass’s armour after the fusion is complete.

It takes some time, but Cass learns to control its power and even learns things about the moonstone. Despite history recounting a malicious entity that was created to destroy, this soon becomes false and Cass begins to relate to it. Its desire to protect and be reunited with the Sundrop reminds Cass of her protectiveness and care towards Rapunzel. With both entities accepting each other, Cass gains complete control and even improves physically and mentally.

I know in canon Cass gains complete control with another incantation but idk I think personally her gaining a companionship with the moonstone and therefore learning gradually about her abilities is more compelling.

This was where I was going to expand on why my Mooncandra exists, like how in my version she isn't Mother Gothels daughter and what she saw in the house of Yesterdays Tomorrows was completely different. But that kind of veered off into narrative changes so I'll leave that for another day.