The Doctor had been babbling at K-9 for a considerable amount of time, as if filling in an old friend on all the things they'd missed in the preceding few centuries.

Her companions, meanwhile, had remained slightly back, deciding that one did not come between a woman and her dog. They had crested several sand dunes at this point, waded through a green glowing river that K-9 had insisted wasn't toxic, and were now climbing what quickly turned into a small mountain in spite of having looked mostly flat a few metres away.

"I hope this dog knows where he's going," Graham grumbled, stumbling slightly on a rocky surface. "And I also hope this wish malarkey turns out to be real, otherwise we're all screwed."

"Didn't the Doctor say that whoever made it to Ozymandias's palace would get a wish? Do you think that means we'll each get to make one?" Yaz asked, not wanting to sound as excited as she felt.

"I didn't even think of that!" replied Ryan, not caring how excited he sounded. "Oh man, we could wish for anything!"

"I'm sure there are some constraints…" warned Yaz.

Graham agreed. "There's always something with these things. Bet you anything it'll be a monkey paw type deal; get what you want but at a price."

Ryan rolled his eyes and tried not to look at how far up they now were. "Go on then, you downers – what are you gonna wish for?"

Everyone became silent as they each considered their possibilities.

"I know this is a bit lame," began Yaz, playing with her necklace, "but I think I'd wish for my family to get along better. If that's even possible. I just want a bit of peace without every little thing starting an argument. I guess the Doctor said you can't negatively affect others so…maybe there's a way for me personally to be better around them. Like some super negotiator. I just wish I had the heart to tell them how I really feel. I totally should've taken those advanced mediation classes while I was training," she sighed.

"You had to make it earnest and wholesome, didn't you?" Ryan moaned. "Now my idea for a mansion with an Olympic-sized swimming pool full of money seems superficial."

"Come on, son, I'm sure you can do better than that," insisted Graham. "Something that would actually matter to you."

"I guess…if he could somehow fix my brain and cure my dyspraxia. It might not be that simple, but not having it be a burden anymore would definitely change my life."

Ryan became very solemn and Graham gave him a reassuring pat on the back.

"What about you, then?" Ryan asked. "What's your big wish?"

Graham waved his hand dismissively. "Ah, you get to my age and you have all the things you could ever need. And those you don't have, you got over a long time ago. Na, I think I'm happy right where I am. Don't wanna change things anytime soon."

Yaz couldn't help but notice a tinge of sadness in Graham's tone, but decided to take him at his word rather than press further.

The Doctor and K-9 had reached the summit of the very large hill / very small mountain and stood looking out to the distance. Below them appeared to be farmland, with a large cornfield spreading out for what seemed like miles.

"Isn't it beautiful?" the Doctor smiled.

"Affirmative," K-9 replied, more out of habit than actual visual appreciation.

"Ah, there you are," the Doctor said as the others caught back up. "What have you been chatting about?"

"We were deciding what our wishes might be," Yaz explained. "Assuming Ozymandias grants us one."

"Since you can't risk wishing the TARDIS back, what's yours gonna be then, Doc?" asked Graham.

The Doctor stood silently for a while before quietly exhaling. "I'm going to have to wish us to Gallifrey, I suppose. Sneak in the back and steal the TARDIS. Again. I guess, I'm going to wish to go home."