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Once upon a time, there was a little girl with a difficult choice to make... Candy's powers are gone. She has a chance at a normal life, if she wants it. As she tries to decide, she and the other Slayers East are drawn into a strange world of Faerie, where nothing is quite as it seems... (Air Date: 27 May, 2001)

Regulars:

• Candy
• Cynth
• Zak

Special Guest Stars:

• Brian
• CC
• John

Other Characters:

• Meryll Stevens-Knight - Candy's mother
• Alison - Candy's watcher
• Aggie and Chrys - Cynth's mischievous sisters
• Lolly - Bossy mean girl
• Stephie - Lolly's mean sidekick
• Max - friend of the Slayers East, Cynth's love interest
• Nick - cute guy, but son of a bad man!
• Sophie - young associate of the Slayers
• Troy and Alister - amusing weirdo kids
• Ashleigh Witherspoon - Watcher Council liaison
• Evie Shaw - little girl to be babysat
• Heather - returning in a dream
• Gom - returning in a dream
• Blake Simkiss - returning in a dream
• The Fairy Queen - mistress of the dream world
• Hube, Selwyn, Lex, Ashleigh and the girls from Kitten - cameo appearances in a dream

Episode Synopsis:

Candy has a choice hanging over her. Life is returning to normal for everyone. Candy and Cynth drop by little Evie in hospital - she has a weak heart. She still has her favourite toy with her, the Fairy Queen. Then it's a surprise party for Cynth's birthday - everyone is there, and CC rings through from New York!

That night, there were strange dreams.

In Cynth's dream, she has to get ready for the Fae Queen's ball. In the dream, Alison helps Cynth with a dress, and tells Cynth to advise Candy to reclaim the slayer power. She has a vision of the future where Candy has taken back the power - she is working at a university, and everyone seems happy and successful. But then she has a vision of what will happen if Candy refuses to take it back - she is in a graveyard, standing over Candy's grave...

In Zak's dream, he makes his peace with Heather, and then Troy and Alister arrive to get him ready for the ball. Meryll helps him with his suit and asks him to advise Candy to give up her powers. Then he has a vision of the future if Candy gives her powers up - Zak, an adult, a community leader, a father. But also a vision of what will come to pass if she takes the power back - Zak in a prison cell, on his way to execution...

In Candy's dream, she is in a lecture theatre with Brian, who communicates via the chalkboard. He will support her whatever her decision. Candy's questions and answers ultimately, get Brian to admit that he thinks she was chosen for a reason.

Then Candy was in a cottage with Solace, and the Children of Solace. she was dusting vamps, then sweeping up the dust, so when Simkiss turns up to invite her to the ball, Solace says she can't possibly go because she has only dusty rags to wear. But hope is not lost - Gom appears in a tiara, and magics up a dress and carriage for Candy. She goes to the ball.

Everyone is at the ball. Cynth dances with Max, CC with Zak, and Candy dances with Nick. The Fae Queen is there, with Evie at her side. The Queen tells Candy that the dream is to help her decide. Everyone gets a chance to speak to Candy and offer their advice. Zak tells her of the prophecy that, if she keeps her powers, she'll die.

Then the clock strikes midnight. Candy comes face to face with John. He whispers to her that his death was never her fault, and tells her to do what she feels is right. And she decides.

Morning. Zak comes in and tells Candy he doesn't believe in the prophecy. Candy has decided to take back her powers.

Trivia and Notes:

• A detailed episode synopsis
• Pre-production notes for the episode (.pdf file, 158K)
• This episode resolves several key plotlines and provides some closure for several characters. It's ultimately about whether Candy continues to be the Slayer-potential or not - she has lost her powers, and has an opportunity to walk away from all of it.
• A special episode, featuring the involvement of three returning stars, Blair Rhodes, Andrew Salmond and Rachael Worboys.
• A lot of detail in the underlying stuff here, as well - worth checking out the pre-production notes to this one if you're interested in that sort of thing.