Wyvern Tail Symbolism

The wyvern tail is a symbol of the Holy Empire of Sanbreque, however, it also symbolizes Dion himself and his duty to the Empire. When Dion is in the audience chamber with his father (Sylvestre), the emperor, and disagrees with his orders, Sylvestre pins the wyvern tail on Dion’s lapel, signifying the weight of his duty. 

Later, when Drake's Tail comes under attack by a maddened Bahamut, the heart of the Mothercrystal responds by delving into its attacker’s innermost thoughts and summoning into creation that which most plagues his tortured soul—the wyvern tail that represents the trust Prince Dion’s father placed in him and his duty to the realm.

We often see the wyvern tail appear in scenes with Dion throughout the course of the game, as we also see Dion struggle to bear the weight of his duty when the wyvern tail is mistreated. Some examples are when Anabella mocks Dion and steps spitefully on the flower, or when Dion slams the table after Olivier is named Emperor, casting the flower to the floor. 

It is at this point, when Dion finds out that Olivier has been named Emperor, that Joshua re-enters Dion’s life. Unlike those who have treated the flower (and Dion) with disdain in prior scenes, Joshua earnestly picks up the withered wyvern tail from the ground, which revives in his hold. He then delicately places the flower on the table before Dion, always treating it with the utmost of care.

Using the flower as a symbol for Dion, Joshua’s tender care of it demonstrates his care for Dion, and his desire for them to be allies and friends. The Phoenix, Joshua’s eikon, is also a symbol of rebirth and revival, and just as he has revived the flower, it is his presence and influence that will revive an aching Dion when the burden of his duties are too great to bear. In this sense, we see Joshua as a symbol of hope for Dion.

Later in the game, Dion receives a purple wyvern tail from Harpocrates. Although Dion does not recognise the colour, Harpocrates tells Dion he sees it as a symbol of him.

“Its roots were the roots of the wyvern tail, with all that implies, but they do not define it, just as yours do not define you.” 

While the white wyvern tail signifies Dion’s duty to the empire, the purple wyvern tail signifies Dion as more than just a prince of Sanbreque, but his own man.

The colour of the wyvern tail being purple, a mix of red and blue, could also be seen as a symbol of Joshua’s influence on Dion—how their associated colours, red and blue, mix into the purple of Dion’s true self.

Although Dion rejects the flower from Harpocrates “until I have fulfilled my duty to the realm,” we can see the flower reaching for Dion in the same way it previously reached/revived for Joshua, once again showing Joshua’s influence on Dion. At this point in the game Dion is still not ready to shake the burden of his duty, but we see him growing ever closer into developing into his own person, “wild” or free of these chains, thanks in part to Joshua.

The wyvern tail also visually resembles a real-world flower called queen of the night. In Japanese it’s name means “beauty below the moon,” and the flower is widely associated with the moon in other cultures as well.  

This ties into the moon and Metia symbolism, where Dion is the moon and Joshua is Metia.