Board Thread:Spoilers!/@comment-23906605-20131107132943/@comment-5782606-20131113081624

My theory is that young Rumple wanted to "start anew" with his irresponsible father and used a magical object to do so, but it backfired. It turned his dad into the all-powerful Pan, 'the boy who never wanted to grow up and face the responsibilities of adulthood.' Pan decided to abandon Rumple and enjoy his newly found freedom.

Maybe the knife in the back will end the magic keeping Pan young and powerful. I personally hope Pan won't die, he's just a really interesting character and I want to see him in Storybrooke getting into some trouble.