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Sorcerers Apprentice

Someone only semi-qualified, the "apprentice", gets hold of the Phlebotinum when its normal user, the "wizard", is away. The apprentice uses it for their own advantage, but soon ends up with far too much of a good thing.

At the end of the episode the wizard returns and delivers a quick aesop. Typically, it's either a hero misusing their mentor's phleobotium or a sidekick misusing the hero's.

Often causes a Mes A Crowd or Literal Genie plot

Named for the old story best known today from its appearance in Disney's Fantasia -- Mickey Mouse, the Sorcerer's apprentice, uses his master's magic to bring a broom to life and make it fetch water for him. The broom obeys only too well, and soon the whole castle is flooded and the sorcerer is forced to (quite literally) bail Mickey out. The Disney version is originally based on a story by Lucian, written around 150 AD, making this one of The Oldest Ones In The Book.

Examples:

Jade's constant use of the talismans for mischief or honest attempts to help on Jackie Chan Adventures.
The various times the Dragons misused Shen Gon Wu for pranks or personal gain in Xiaolin Showdown
In the Torchwood episode "Everything Changes", all the Torchwood employees (except Ianto) are shown as bringing alien technology home for selfish use. While the technology itself works well, Tosh and Owen return their appropriated technology after Suzie, driven mad with desire for power over the Risen Mitten, commits suicide.

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