So, much like when I did Telltale Steven Universe Rewritten Extras, I'm also doing the same for my AU called Arkham Edition.
Spoilers to Arkham Edition.
Ghost Spinel is technically a character in Steven Universe: Arkham Edition, as she isn't the real Spinel in any shape or form. Context to how and why she exists, Steven inhaled a gas that's designed to make him see his worst fears. But Steven wasn't scared of anything at the time, as he was still suffering from crippling depression after Spinel's death in Valentine's Day - believing that he shattered her.
And so, the gas had a special affect on him. Instead of making him see his worst fear, it makes him see a Spinel that only he could see. Ghost Spinel is part of Steven's mind, being a manifestation of his inner thoughts and trauma.
Anything Ghost Spinel do or say is what Steven thinks Spinel would actually do. Now the real Spinel is alive during the time Ghost Spinel occurred, and Steven didn't know that, which means he still remembers Spinel during her villain state; which explains why she's so evil and a nuisance.
She doesn't physically affect the plot, other than be some comic relief and a way to project what Steven is thinking and feeling. But even as a figment of his imagination, Ghost Spinel does serve an important role to the plot and here's why.
A: Projection. B: Affects The Audience. C: Comic Relief in a Depressing Story. D: Moral Of The Story.
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A: Projection.
Ghost Spinel is a projection to Steven's inner thoughts and feelings. Sometimes it's directly stated, but it's also subtly shown in various ways. Just take this picture for example:
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[This chapter and photo is going to be used as reference a lot, be prepared.]
From this picture, we can see how Steven just ignores Ghost Spinel's existence. Taking the fact that she's his inner thoughts and trauma, this is a symbolic example of Steven's poor self-care and 'modesty.'
This was a known character trait of Steven in Canon Steven Universe, ignoring his problems until it explodes in his face. Arkham Steven is just built different, therefore he has to have a more serious/refined way of ignoring his problems.
Since Arkham Steven is more in control of his emotions and nothing like his canonical counterpart, he must have a different situation to his stress. Using the stuff from canon wouldn't work for Arkham Steven, plus it would ruin the tone.
I learned this lesson from my AU series with AU Steven. Taking that into account, I knew Arkham Steven would need something more fitting to his character.
