Board Thread:Wiki-Related Discussion/@comment-2153169-20171120155605/@comment-34657163-20180513021538

Here's a theory I came up with after last night's episode :D

Something that's been oddly consistent is that no one in the Wish Realm aged/ages: Robin, Granny, Ariel, The Apprentice, Smee, Cruella, Blackbeard, and Henry. They are all stuck at their ages upon creation based off their ages from present day in 611 (if they were alive for some of them). But then there's August (older-Pinnochio), Old Snowing, and Old Hook who obviously aged right? I think August & Old Snowing were just byproducts of Emma's thoughts and the realm being created as an alternate (universe?) if Emma grew up as Princess Emma, with her parents and her best friend (or just they didn't want to pass up on the chance to have Eion Bailey...I don't mind ;). Then there's Hook: well, since Hook has a backstory/past for plot purposes...he exited the Wish Realm, and into the NEF where time does flow, so he aged. Then, he probably got to his 611 state after staying out in the NEF for so long  and drinking while attempting to reunite with Alice prior to returning and meeting Ariel. That's why he appears like that in 611, and not because of Emma's desires.

Cruella would have been in the EF since Snowing must have stopped Regina before going through the, "darkness! oh no!" Technically, that makes Wish Snowing somewhat better parents, eh?

There are also Belle & Gepetto's deaths of course, but neither of them died from aging. Or at least Belle didn't (starvation and decay...). Gepetto could have, but he also could have died from some other tragic thing (seeing as it made Emma and August sadder than, imo, if he died from old age).

What I'm getting at is: no one in the Wish Realm ages! I think others have mentioned this, but it makes the most sense to me and has a fair amount of evidence to support it. I also think that they stuck with the Wish Realm only being in the EF, and Cruella's existence being due to her being there at the time (although, her not having a past contradicts Nook having one). Pan and Ariel could have been visiting just because (not like Pan doesn't from time to time).

''Doesn't solve Wish Realm having a backstory and its major impact on Gothel getting out of the tower and building her coven. As well as it having certain characters being alive, and Neal being dead (obviously due to scheduling and stuffs but plotwise it's still strange). Bonus: Henry being named Henry, and Rumple being able to obtain a MAGIC BEAN.''

''Acknowledges this wasn't planned when the wish realm was introduced. Moves on anyways. ''

Wishes they either A. started it as the S5 finale or B.