Following Tonsoria's advice, you make your way to the nearest coast guard, stationed at the town entrance to the south. An armoured stallion greets you with a nod, and you ask him about the chemist's missing counter.

Coast guard: "I haven't seen anything, but it wouldn't be the first time that mad scientist spilled one too many brews. To be honest, I can't blame that counter for making an escape the moment it came to life.

So he asked you to get it back for him, huh? You know, if he'd reported the incident to us in the first place, that would've made everyone's job easier. Not that he'd leave that house of his if it was on fire. Yeah, it's happened before."

The coast guard scribbles something down on a small notepad, then puts it away.

Coast guard: "Anyway, we'll take it from here. Who did you say you were again?"

You introduce your party to the coast guard.

Coast guard: "Adventurers, huh? Well, if you're looking to help, we've got some higher priorities right now. Just this morning, an earth pony colt went missing on his way here from Saddleshire. We suspect that he might've wandered off-track and gotten lost in the woods.

The canopy is making it difficult for our search team to locate him from above, and we don't have much time left before it gets dark. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated."

Moonflower: "Harsh bud! If this forest is anythin' like the Everfree, it could get super dangerous at night! But we can't risk missin' the celebration either, 'cause Furia's the guest of honour. What do we do?"